The home advantage is generally regarded as a contributing factor to the result of a game in many sports including football, basketball and baseball. There is statistical evidence showing that home teams have higher win rates compared to visitors not only in the aforementioned sports, but in other ones as well either to a similar or a lesser extent.
In fact, the issue of home advantage is of particular relevance and interest to sportsbooks and bettors, as it is used to justify an edge given to one team or the other. But what happens in MMA? Is this home advantage any relevant? Is there such a thing as a home advantage which gives an extra boost to the fighters? I mean, if you browse for example through Germany’s UFC betting sites, will you ever find odds implying a home advantage in a UFC fight?
First of all, let’s see how the home advantage gives an edge to one of the two opposing sides and then we’ll see whether this is also the case in MMA fights.
One of the most profound ways in which playing at home gives an advantage is that there is a cheerful audience, a crowded court or field that is ready to uplift the team or the athlete. A positive atmosphere, filled with positive support cannot but be the absolute boost that anybody needs to give their best and give a stunning performance.
Another way in which the home advantage favors the home teams is that it can disorientate the visitors. This is particularly the case when visitors are called to play in a different time zone, which means that they might experience jet lag or a general ‘confusion’ of their biologically programmed performances.
And then there is also the possibility of bias of referees, for example, in favor of the home teams. Several fans and also a respectful portion of bettors believe that the home team or athlete is favored because of the more favorable attitude or behavior the referees are going to have towards them.
Now, let’s see whether these can edge a UFC fighter.
The cheerful audience is in fact one of the main boost drivers in any UFC fight. If the fight night is crowded there will certainly be an uplift. But for whom? Is it only for the fighter that is in his own home cage? Should you as bettors go and place a bet on the home fighter because he has more chances of winning? Not necessarily.
Traditionally UFC fights had been taking place in the US, but this did not mean that non US fighters were losing all the time. Looking at what happens in other locations, we can see that there are some regions where the home cage advantage works not in favor of the home fighter but against the visitor fighter.
One such place for instance is Brazil, where there is a generally great intensity in UFC fights and there is a somewhat more hostile audience for visitors. The home cage advantage can be said to work because the atmosphere does not favor the visitors!
If we look at the bias in favor of the home fighter, we would say that in the case of a UFC fight there would be let’s say greater tolerance or the possible bias of the judge should the fight go to a decision. But looking at statistics this is rarely the case.
Overall, the home advantage in the case of MMA fights is not so relevant, particularly for betting purposes. Of course there might be a strong influence when someone fights at home and he is more boosted and more motivated but there is no supporting statistical evidence to justify home fighters being more favored than visitors. So, as bettors you should probably not back your decisions and choices on perceived edges by the home advantage!
