Issue 065
August 2010
Professional fighter Rosi Sexton is a sports therapist and osteopath-in-training. She has fought in countries such as Russia, Canada and the USA, and is ranked as one of the top competitors in her weight class.
I have my first fight coming up in a month’s time. I’ve been training hard for it; I’m getting much more confident in sparring and my coaches tell me that I’ll be ready. I’m still really nervous though, and I’m not sure how I’ll react once I’m in there. I’m worried that my nerves will stop me from doing my best. Is there any way to stop myself from feeling like this?
All athletes suffer from some degree of anxiety before an important competition. In MMA it’s a little different, because it’s not just your ego on the line. Let’s not beat about the bush – you’re about to get in a ring or cage with someone else who is intent on doing you physical damage. This isn’t some irrational performance anxiety we’re talking about here; you have every reason to feel a little nervous. That’s not a bad thing. The adrenaline is there to help you to perform at your best – providing you know how to deal with it.
With a first fight there’s also the fear of the unknown. After a few outings you at least know what to expect and how you’re going to feel, and you start to get better at handling it. Without that experience to fall back on, what can you do to make sure you’re ready for your debut?
Go in at the right level
Regardless of how good you are in the gym, don’t jump straight into a professional fight or go up against an opponent with lots more experience. Ideally, it’s best to start out with interclub competitions or with amateur fights on smaller shows.
Have a good team behind you
If you’re training with experienced coaches who you trust, then they’ll be able to guide you and make sure you’re ready.
Make sure you’re physically prepared
Always go into a fight knowing that you have trained hard, you’re in good shape and you know what to do. Remember it’s the training that will carry you through.
Consider consulting a sports psychologist
Fighters are sometimes reluctant to seek help with the mental aspects of their game, but in reality it’s no different from training your physical skills. Staying focused under pressure, dealing with pre-fight anxiety, building confidence and using mental rehearsal are all skills that can be taught and take practise to develop.
Write a plan
Make a written plan for everything you need to do or remember in the final days and hours running up to the fight. This may sound over the top, but it’s amazing how much there can be to do, and how easy it is to forget something when the nerves kick in and your blood sugar is low from weight cutting. You don’t need the added stress of forgetting your gumshield! Plan your travel well in advance. Leave plenty of time, and have a backup plan in case the car breaks down, the trains are cancelled, or your driver is abducted by aliens.
Don’t expect it to feel comfortable
You’re probably going to feel nervous – that’s perfectly normal. Sure, it’s uncomfortable, but don’t make things worse by worrying about how you’re feeling, or trying to make it go away. It’s all part of the experience you signed up for.
Warm up thoroughly
A lot of fighters make the mistake of doing only a brief warm-up. Some worry that they’re going to waste too much energy. It’s important to warm up well in order to get past that initial feeling of tiredness or weakness that you may experience because of the adrenaline. Get a warm-up routine that works for you.
Enjoy the fight!
Remember your reasons for wanting to take the fight in the first place, and think of it as the end result of a lot of hard work. Win or lose, you’ll have done something that most fans of the sport never will.
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