Bankroll Management

**BIGDAY** · 10-08-11, 07:01 AM

I treat mine the same as any other sport. Where 1 unit equals 2 percent of my bankroll. My max wager is a 5 Unit play at 10%, however I may only have 3 to 5 of those per year. I've only had 2 five Unit wagers this year.

On average, on an event that I have 4 to 7 plays on I can easily have about 20 to 25 % of my bank roll on that particular event.

I also adjust my Unit size after each event so that if I go on a bad streak, I can some what minimize my loss.

Hope that helps and hope you cash those tickets!!

**NunyaBidness** · 10-08-11, 11:51 AM

Kelly criterion. Anything else is guessing.

**varkolek** · 10-08-11, 02:13 PM

If I think the odds are accurate but still pretty favourable, I'll stake 7.5% of my bankroll. If I think one fighter has an edge, but there's some variables and it could go either way 5%. Also, I bet 5% if I think the odds don't have enough value (like Aaron Simpson at 1.3 for UFC 136). If it's a value play where I think the probability is 50:50, but you have a dog of 3.0+ I'll stake 2.5%. On props like over-unders or ko or decision in principle I stake 6% but usually more like 5%. Sometimes 2.5% for props also.

I used to place 10-20% stakes, but lost a bunch together and wiped out all my profit (not all my bankroll). Part of that was betting 20% on Tyson Griffin over Nik Lentz. Then I bet about 5% but the losses didn't hurt enough so I placed bets too casually and not accurately. I feel about 7.5% is the level where I think about the bet enough to be careful. I've never had a big loss again and have made steady profit.

That said, due to lack of information I usually bet much smaller than that. Like I'll place a bunch of bets at 3% on prelim fights or for Fight Nights where I haven't got much information on the fighters, and win them all. I'd probably make much more money if I bet consistently larger, but I don't like losing and I don't like my bankroll fluctuating too much.

The Kelly Criterion is probably a good idea but I can't do maths.

**Vitooch** · 10-11-11, 04:17 PM

My bankroll is at 165 dollars right now. Isn't betting 2% or 3% (3$ or 4$) per bet a bit unrealistic?

**FightFightFight** · 10-11-11, 04:47 PM

The point of the 2% unit is to maximize growth, with minimmum risk of damage from bad streaks. If thats unrealistic because you dont value 3 or 4 bucks, then your bankroll is likely actually higher than that. IE. If u lose the 165, im guessing youd reup at least once, maybe twice.

**gabe** · 10-11-11, 04:59 PM

My bankroll is one hundred and fifty two million dollars. I started off with only seventy-five cents. Took me a month.

**Kaladarus** · 10-11-11, 05:45 PM

Forget about bankroll management. Take a couple of chances and try to increase your bankroll. Once you get to $1000 at least then start figuring it out. It's pretty much a waste of time to be studying footage and figuring out good spots if you are only betting $10 on good spots.

FightFight mentions that your bankroll is higher than $160. This is true. Bankroll isn't just what is in your sportsbook account. Bankroll is what you are willing to use for betting. To me it seems like your bankroll is some what disposable. Pick your spots and get that money in right now. As your account grows then start betting kelly.

**NickBaragona** · 10-11-11, 07:09 PM

I started out with $100 in April, and have built it up to $1200. It took awhile, but it is well worth it. I don't wager any exact %, just what I feel comfortable losing. Souza lost me $350 last month, but I made that back up in a couple weeks with smart bets.

**v1y** · 10-11-11, 09:08 PM

bankroll management is for pussies.

**iQon** · 10-11-11, 10:17 PM

With $160, that kind of bankroll management is irrelevant.

I'd just flat bet $20-30. Enough to survive a cold streak, enough to see progress when you win. Build that up to 1k and up your unit to $50. Keep the mindset that you're not going to get rich overnight. It's a grind. Treat it as such and you'll be fine.

**Vitooch** · 10-11-11, 11:47 PM

Here's my situation: I started with 50 dollars, and did pretty well making a few, solid, straight up bets each event (profited on Cormier over Silva, Ellenberger over Shields). Realizing I can actually make good money off MMA betting considering my initial success, I deposited more money (300 more), but started making way more prop bets and hedge bets. In my last two events doing that, I haven't seen as much success and am down to 162. I think I should continue to bet more than 2%/3%, but make less prop bets.

I think I'm going to heed Kaladarus's advice and continue to make 5%-10% bets until I make enough to actually follow good bankrll management. But at this point I'm better off betting a bit riskier until I make a reasonable profit.

**GunShard** · 10-12-11, 01:11 AM

I say 10% of your bankroll.

Make sure you make parlays on websites like 5dimes. Where you can make a parlay on future UFC events. This is profitable for me when connecting heavy favorites from multiple events.

**MMAbetMASTA** · 10-12-11, 02:15 AM

Originally posted by Kaladarus

Forget about bankroll management. Take a couple of chances and try to increase your bankroll. Once you get to $1000 at least then start figuring it out. It's pretty much a waste of time to be studying footage and figuring out good spots if you are only betting $10 on good spots.

FightFight mentions that your bankroll is higher than $160. This is true. Bankroll isn't just what is in your sportsbook account. Bankroll is what you are willing to use for betting. To me it seems like your bankroll is some what disposable. Pick your spots and get that money in right now. As your account grows then start betting kelly.

Agree with a lot of this man. After a 2 year lay off I started playing mma again last october. Put 100 on condit over hardy and won 145. People can call this stupid, which it might be haha, but from there with that 145 I went all out over the next few events, betting almost 50% - 80% my whole stack per event on just one fight playing str8 up moneyline. Once I got to a G I slowed my roll and started to make smaller plays, but I'll say I still put up probably 20% - 50% of my stack on just one or two fights per show, sometimes more units if I was really confident. I keep that ratio up for a bit. After getting to two G's, I slowed down a bit more and switched up my play ratio to probably 20%-35% per show. I kept building at that ratio but now I don't bet near that percentage because that's good money plus I don't have anyone who would take those bets locally. I guess I have bad bankroll managment because obviously those are reckless play percentages and my whole stack could be gone in 3 events. Clearly I don't use any of the formal systems and I'll admit math ain't my thing too. My value when considering a bankroll system is I kind of just went off my own knowledge of the sport and my ability to research. I value that over any type of 'formula' or betting system. I've looked into the Kelly and should probably follow it... but I don't. If you can pick fights TS and you know you've got good insight / breakdowns, go with your gut and be confident and stack that shit - the universe will provide haha! I've def lost before, had a rough summer, yet I've never lost any of the really big bets I've made and I'm waaay up from that 100 a year ago. Perhaps my logic on this is all very stupid and I might be eating my words someday wondering where them units went, but I only lose when I get undisciplined and bet more than just one or two fights/plays per show or did shitty research n breakdowns (or get robbed like a mofo in phan/garcia I). If you're not that confident in your breakdown or got a bad gut feeling on a play, yet you do bet a nice percentage of your stack in each event, then try going small like 10%. Or don't listen to a word my rambling ass said cause you might be broke

But yea overall like Kal said just go big and take some risks and build some paper up at first, then worry about how develop your own bankroll system. GL man.

**MMAbetMASTA** · 10-12-11, 02:20 AM

Originally posted by Vitooch

Here's my situation: I started with 50 dollars, and did pretty well making a few, solid, straight up bets each event (profited on Cormier over Silva, Ellenberger over Shields). Realizing I can actually make good money off MMA betting considering my initial success, I deposited more money (300 more), but started making way more prop bets and hedge bets. In my last two events doing that, I haven't seen as much success and am down to 162. I think I should continue to bet more than 2%/3%, but make less prop bets.

I think I'm going to heed Kaladarus's advice and continue to make 5%-10% bets until I make enough to actually follow good bankrll management. But at this point I'm better off betting a bit riskier until I make a reasonable profit.

Wish I would have read this before that last post. As of recently I got a 5dime account because I wanted to take a stab at parlays again and wanted to try prop bets for the first time. I haven't lost all my intiial deposit, but I'll admit I def lose those plays a good amount. That's why I am a firm believer in just playing 1 or 2 fights per show and play them str8 moneyline, fairly larger % if you're confident, just like you were doing with your initial success. Stick with that at first and build up your stack, then you can play around with parlays and props and see how you do there

**Vitooch** · 10-12-11, 04:53 AM

Originally posted by MMAbetMASTA

Wish I would have read this before that last post. As of recently I got a 5dime account because I wanted to take a stab at parlays again and wanted to try prop bets for the first time. I haven't lost all my intiial deposit, but I'll admit I def lose those plays a good amount. That's why I am a firm believer in just playing 1 or 2 fights per show and play them str8 moneyline, fairly larger % if you're confident, just like you were doing with your initial success. Stick with that at first and build up your stack, then you can play around with parlays and props and see how you do there

Thanks for the feedback. You and Kaladarus are making alot of sense. I should stick to my initial strategy and stick with 2 or 3 solid plays per event. In my first two events I made good money off of that simple strategy. Perhaps I need to stay away from props and parlays for now, try my luck, and if I build my chip stack up to 500-1000, then I can get fancy.

I broke down the Cormier/Silva fight pretty well, and went 3 for 3 at UFN 25 (including Ellenberger over Shields), so I'll make sure to stick with what I do best, instead of trying to hit miracle parlays and props with such a small bankroll.

I have in mind some solid plays at UFC 137. Hopefully I can get back on track and make some serious money

**horja1** · 10-12-11, 05:43 AM

interesting thread

**BIGDAY** · 10-12-11, 08:48 AM

Originally posted by Vitooch

Thanks for the feedback. You and Kaladarus are making alot of sense. I should stick to my initial strategy and stick with 2 or 3 solid plays per event. In my first two events I made good money off of that simple strategy. Perhaps I need to stay away from props and parlays for now, try my luck, and if I build my chip stack up to 500-1000, then I can get fancy.

I broke down the Cormier/Silva fight pretty well, and went 3 for 3 at UFN 25 (including Ellenberger over Shields), so I'll make sure to stick with what I do best, instead of trying to hit miracle parlays and props with such a small bankroll.

I have in mind some solid plays at UFC 137. Hopefully I can get back on track and make some serious money

If you're trying to build something up from your amount then I completely agree. But once you have established a good bankroll amount say 1k to 10k, then I would say limiting your wagers to a percentage with benifit you. Best of Luck!

**Vitooch** · 10-12-11, 03:13 PM

Originally posted by BIGDAY

If you're trying to build something up from your amount then I completely agree. But once you have established a good bankroll amount say 1k to 10k, then I would say limiting your wagers to a percentage with benifit you. Best of Luck!

That's exactly what I plan on doing

**v1y** · 10-13-11, 06:41 PM

Seriously though, I'm up a shit ton from my initial deposit, and I STILL bet 1/3 of my bankroll some nights! (I would bet 1/2, but I've already withdrawn more than 1/2.)