Dealing with doubt before a fight

biscuitsbrah

biscuitsbrah

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So I just got an mma fight scheduled in about 8 weeks and I would be lying if I said I wasnt nervous for this upcoming fight.

I don’t really know anything about my opponent but I saw a picture of him and he’s really big for 135. He used to fight at 145, and I’m a small 135’er.

I’m not really afraid of getting hurt but of losing. This is the biggest guy I’ve ever fought by far and I can’t help but feel afraid of losing. (I know I should just worry about performing to the best of my ability).
I’m confident in my skills but overcoming the physicality is a daunting task.

Luckily I have 8 weeks to lift weights and spar bigger training partners and hopefully I become more confident as the fight gets nearer.

What are some things you guys do when feeling doubt as the underdog?
 
biscuitsbrah said:
So I just got an mma fight scheduled in about 8 weeks and I would be lying if I said I wasnt nervous for this upcoming fight.

I don’t really know anything about my opponent but I saw a picture of him and he’s really big for 135. He used to fight at 145, and I’m a small 135’er.

I’m not really afraid of getting hurt but of losing. This is the biggest guy I’ve ever fought by far and I can’t help but feel afraid of losing. (I know I should just worry about performing to the best of my ability).
I’m confident in my skills but overcoming the physicality is a daunting task.

Luckily I have 8 weeks to lift weights and spar bigger training partners and hopefully I become more confident as the fight gets nearer.

What are some things you guys do when feeling doubt as the underdog?
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i never feel doubt lol j/k.

but honestly sounds like you have a good plan for dealing with it now. your doubt/nerves come from him being bigger. build your confidence by working with bigger guys. if he normally fights at 145, find a guy that is indeed 145 and work with him.
does he simply have more mass or does he have a reach advantage as well?
 
He’s not that much taller I think but he’s just built solid
 
Just another battle to conquer. Dont lose the fight before you get in there just bc hes big and muscular. Train your mental, and focus on breathing. You got this!
 
biscuitsbrah said:
So I just got an mma fight scheduled in about 8 weeks and I would be lying if I said I wasnt nervous for this upcoming fight.

I don’t really know anything about my opponent but I saw a picture of him and he’s really big for 135. He used to fight at 145, and I’m a small 135’er.

I’m not really afraid of getting hurt but of losing. This is the biggest guy I’ve ever fought by far and I can’t help but feel afraid of losing. (I know I should just worry about performing to the best of my ability).
I’m confident in my skills but overcoming the physicality is a daunting task.

Luckily I have 8 weeks to lift weights and spar bigger training partners and hopefully I become more confident as the fight gets nearer.

What are some things you guys do when feeling doubt as the underdog?
Click to expand...
remember bj crushing hughes? size isn't everything. if you start thinking about it you have already lost. you will win because your striking is faster and more powerful, your shots more explosive and your grappling slicker. who gives a fuck if he has a few pounds on you.
on a serious note use his size against him, big cuts can lead to diminished cardio and decreased punch resistance.
i highly recommend you work on your straight punching (you have great mobility) and move around and lace him up for the first round. try to force him to reach for his shots and strikes so that it is easier to defend the takedown, and counter him... a lot.
don't look for kicks until you know you have his takedowns covered and he has lost a bit of juice. then open up with the kicks and body shots. if you have done your job right at this point he should be reacting to your strikes allowing for a much easier takedown. WHEN you get him down DON'T WASTE THE OPPORTUNITY. if he is strong enough and has skills you won't be able to hold him down when he's fresh. just make sure your doing damage and try to catch him with knees as he stands.
strike in flurries and if you feel like your gassing or losing position stop striking and reset. it is easier to control the position against someone on the ground by incorporating strikes as it gives them a lot more to worry about. trying to hold them down turns it into pure grappling and puts the ball in their court if they are stronger or superior grapplers.
basically overall, stay mobile, don't circle into his power hand, chop him down to size and most importantly don't fucken' worry. he will be the one that will be worried after walking on to a few strong rights.
 
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biscuitsbrah said:
So I just got an mma fight scheduled in about 8 weeks and I would be lying if I said I wasnt nervous for this upcoming fight.

I don’t really know anything about my opponent but I saw a picture of him and he’s really big for 135. He used to fight at 145, and I’m a small 135’er.

I’m not really afraid of getting hurt but of losing. This is the biggest guy I’ve ever fought by far and I can’t help but feel afraid of losing. (I know I should just worry about performing to the best of my ability).
I’m confident in my skills but overcoming the physicality is a daunting task.

Luckily I have 8 weeks to lift weights and spar bigger training partners and hopefully I become more confident as the fight gets nearer.

What are some things you guys do when feeling doubt as the underdog?
Click to expand...
I’ve never fought. I’ll never fight. But you having nightmares of a 140lb man is Sherdogs DREAM. Lol
 
two of me favourite tricks i can't hold someone down, is catch them with the knee as they stand (like i mentioned earlier) or if your more into a grappling style attack and can wrestle a bit (from what i have seen your wrestling is pretty good). let them up, but make sure you have control of their legs, pounce them off the cage, turn 'em in towards the middle and slam them. they get sick of standing if they are using more energy and get slammed every time for their efforts. (watch doing this until you have him worn out a bit, you don't want to gas yourself picking someone heavier up, with little reward)
 
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LukeSkyrocker said:
I’ve never fought. I’ll never fight. But you having nightmares of a 140lb man is Sherdogs DREAM. Lol
Click to expand...
and that's probably why you should shut the fuck up. roberto duran would probably kill you to this day and he's sixty something.
 
biscuitsbrah said:
So I just got an mma fight scheduled in about 8 weeks and I would be lying if I said I wasnt nervous for this upcoming fight.

I don’t really know anything about my opponent but I saw a picture of him and he’s really big for 135. He used to fight at 145, and I’m a small 135’er.

I’m not really afraid of getting hurt but of losing. This is the biggest guy I’ve ever fought by far and I can’t help but feel afraid of losing. (I know I should just worry about performing to the best of my ability).
I’m confident in my skills but overcoming the physicality is a daunting task.

Luckily I have 8 weeks to lift weights and spar bigger training partners and hopefully I become more confident as the fight gets nearer.

What are some things you guys do when feeling doubt as the underdog?
Click to expand...
if i could make another suggestion? while i encourage strength training to hold your own, i recommend you don't overly focus on it. if he is freakishly strong (i have encountered the type) it will take years to get on his level. thats the equivalent of training too box to beat a boxer. what i do highly recommend is as much wrestling as possible, with the biggest wrestlers that you can find (and still remotely hang with). getting used to manipulating the larger weight in wrestling will help you far more than trying to match strength with him.
i say this because i was always that tall skinny kid that gave away size to everybody and was still the better wrestler (i'm not from a wrestling culture and i know if i faced bigger people that could actually wrestle i would get mopped), but i have usually been able to slam much larger opponents. it's all position and leverage. also DO NOT go into the fight too sore from strength training or drained from cutting too much or a bad cut.
you want to have pep in your step, and zap in your hands, this is were your advantage lies being the smaller fighter. don't give up your advantages trying to meet him head to head. apart from that just you out there and smash the fucka.
 
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KarateStylist said:
if,
and,
but, but for,
what,
not,
sooner,
later,
gator... if brah has to carry all that scenario around during the fight, I doubt he'll make it out alive.<LucyBless>
Click to expand...
fuck you talk shit! ever been in a fight? i'm talking about what to focus on in training, you green belt girl scout, not going into a fight with a million things on his mind. you know they have these things called "strategies" in fight camps, don't ya champ?
 
KarateStylist said:
if,
and,
but, but for,
what,
not,
sooner,
later,
gator... if brah has to carry all that scenario around during the fight, I doubt he'll make it out alive.<LucyBless>
Click to expand...
also if that is you in the av. you have some major balls "poising" with a green belt on. some of the blokes around here have more belts than you've had cooked breakfasts. i myself was a state champion and GREEN belt in tae kwon do... when i was seven...
 
Also @KarateStylist what would a great green belt master such as yourself, suggest in such a situation? focus his inner chi and strike him down with a single killing blow, no doubt?
seriously interested in your response as you thought you could get involved with the conversations of your betters without actually contributing fuck all...
who let you out of your play pen anyway, i didn't think you were big enough to climb the fence, and i know your not smart enough to work the latch...
 
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eternaldarkness said:
also if that is you in the av. you have some major balls "poising" with a green belt on. some of the blokes around here have more belts than you've had cooked breakfasts. i myself was a state champion and GREEN belt in tae kwon do... when i was seven...
Click to expand...
Whoppy ding dong. & age seven is 'bout right for your content.<Kpop775>
 
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eternaldarkness said:
f*ck you talk sh*t! ever been in a fight? i'm talking about what to focus on in training, you green belt girl scout, not going into a fight with a million things on his mind. you know they have these things called "strategies" in fight camps, don't ya champ?
Click to expand...
Yeaaah. Yur the king of du this & doo that. Assuming yur a real person.<{1-1}>
 
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