What is conditioning's role in a fight?

Its no secret that conditioning wins fights, but why? Simple being in peak physical condition allows you to implement your game and execute technique at top performance deep into the fight staying mentally and physically sharp until the final bell.

Easy right? Get in better shape than your opponent and you should win. Right? Wrong. The truth is its not about who is in better shape as much as its about who can make the other guy weak, tired and give up..in other words break. The individual that controls the fight and implements pressure through out the fight is usually the one who is less fatigued come the end of the fight. Why? Because when you are in control you are comfortable, sharp and relaxed, when you are being pressured you are anxious and under stress. Anxiety and stress will tire you out 10 times as fast as throwing punches and kicks on a heavy bag for a round. It is not uncommon for a fighter to have trained physically to the point of peak performance in the gym but come fight time they gas within the first round. Reason- they let their opponent dictate pace and they weren't comfortable with it. They allowed themselves to be the prey in the game and thats a scary place to be.

Alot of aspects come into controlling a fight but the basis is you need to have the mind set of a hunter or a predator not one of prey. Doesn't matter weather you like to press action or counter you still need to be the one that is doing the hunting and not the hunted. In other words focus on what your going to do to them and not the other ways around.

So the idea is not to simply have a greater energy reserve then your opponent and see who drops first or can last the longest. The idea is to be in control of energy expenditure. You defiantly need to be in great condition to implement your game and take the role of the hunter, but the goal is to force your opponent to waist energy by causing them anxiety and stress while minimizing your output through positive mind set and controlling the tempo and pace of the fight.