Nerves.... Problem

Dealing with nerves going into a fight, For about a week leading up to a fight I start to feel very nervous going over and over in my head my game plan and what am going to do planning everything in my head down to the finest detail, Usually on the night of the fight I feel very sick and everything I had planned goes out my head and I cant think strait, I somehow relax after the first round and get back into my mindset, I often wonder if every fighter gets this and if so can anyone give me some tips on how to overcome this as am not enjoying the build up to any of my fights.

Regards Tam

I have a simillar problem, im still trying to work this out so cant give you any wise words, i been told that you learn to deal with it overtime, i was also advised that some nerves are good,

my biggest problem is dealing with the adrenalin dump, any tips on how to overcome that ?

don't look at it as just a pre-fight issue...train your mental and train stratagies way before the fight....

learn to use your mind like you learn to use your fist - as oppossed to it running the show

a good base to work is daily meditation imo&e

had same problem when i was active... nerves kick in, feeling sick, game plan etc....
went on a run of about 15 fights unbeaten, no nerves, laid back training. GOT BEAT!!!
nerves are good. keep you sharp and alert.
i retired about 4 years ago and my last fight i was nearly crying on the way to the ring. i climbed over the top rope and the nerves had gone. he dint know what had hit him..

Bottom line nerves are good without them you become complaicent and get beat!!!

i had all these nerves when i had my first full contact fight but i got ko in the first round and lost all me confidence to come back. found out the man i was fighting was british european full contact champ. oh well harsh

We all gotta deal with nerves leading into a fight, it's not about removing them just about learning to deal with them. It definitely gets easier with experience and dealing with them is a personal thing - i've developed my own pre-fight mental routine (which I use prior to any stressful events, not just fights) which involves reinforcing a positive attitude whenever anxious thoughts arise about the event.
I largely try not to think about it and just put the thought out of my head when it arises, if it persists I just tell myself to chill out and I benefit the most from reminding myself frequently that the worst-case scenario of getting into the ring is in most cases no big deal and pain or shame is soon forgotton -none of it is the end of the world i.e. you might break a nose / get ko'd / be limping for a few weeks... but you'll mostly get over it very quickly. Maybe I'm sick in the head but the plus side of taking a severe beating in a particular fight is that it can make most of your subsequent ones feel like a walk in the park (not a recommended way to deal with nerves :-).
The physical side of dealing with nerves on fight day and maybe the day before (i.e. adrenaline, shakes, loss of appetite, frequent pissing etc) are largely dealt with by keeping my mind and body as calm as possible - I don't rush anything on the day, get to venue in plenty of time, get gear and wraps etc on then just chill out

P.S I really can't emphasise enough how helpful keeping your body as relaxed as possible prior to the fight is in calming nerves - it's like my mind and my adrenaline system get's tricked into assuming everything is cool simply because my body and ALL my muscles are super-relaxed (be careful with the neck and shoulder ones as you might think you are relaxed but still be tensing these). It really works wonders for me, but it may not be for everyone...