The days leading to the UFC 110 were filled with UFC news, stories and rumours about how the contenders condition themselves for their fights. Recently, UFC followers have been watching closely how former champion Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira conditioned himself mentally for the match with unbeaten fighter Cain Velasquez in Sydney, Australia.

The main event was predicted to attract a large crowd of fans and supporters, as the Acer Arena apparently sold out to some 16,500 spectators, making it the second most sold out event in the UFC’s 16 year history.

Nogueira vs. Velasquez

The primary focus is the main event, not just because the winner is up for a chance at the world heavyweight title, but also because of the apparent uneven match up between former champion and UFC coach Nogueira and the young but inexperienced Velasquez.

While most bets favor Velasquez for his undefeated record, his formidable boxing and wrestling skills and an endless supply of oxygen in his gas tank, Nogueira’s massive experience should not be discounted. Nogueira’s experience fighting against the A-list of MMA heavyweights such as his unanimous victory over Couture in August 2009 will prove useful.

Silva vs. Bisping

In addition to the Nogueira-Velasquez match, UFC fans also witnessed the mental game between Silva and Bisping in the co-main event. Silva has dropped from 205 to 185 but this alone doesn’t guarantee a win. After all, he lost 5 out of the last 6 fights he was in and losing 20 pounds does not equate to gaining more power.

Bisping, on the other hand, is a methodical fighter, picking on his opponent until he wears him out. His less than perfect track record is countered by the experience gained by a longer time in the middleweight division than Silva. Still, many MMA followers think he’s no match to Silva’s aggressive prowess in the octagon.

Other fights included on the UFC 110 card are Joe Stevenson vs. George Sotiropoulos in the lightweight division and Keith Jardine vs. Ryan Bader in the light heavyweight division. Anthony Perosh has replaced Rothwell, and will now fight heavyweight Mirko Filipovic.

Also in the UFC news are the cancelled rematch between fellow Aussies Elvis Sinosic and Chris Haseman and the bout between Ben Rothwell and Mirko Filipovic. Sinosic has been knocked down by a shoulder injury while Rothwell is ill. Anthony Perosh, another Australian, will fight Mirko instead.

so it’s time to get going with the UFC 110.

Stay up to date with all things MMA with one of the most cutting edge MMA blogs – with a focus on the psychology of this dynamic sport.

If you listen to the comments made by experienced fighters in UFC News interviews, you’ll hear one common thread: The importance of mental conditioning.

When most people think of mixed martial arts, they think only of the physical aspect of the competition, they don’t consider all of the mental preparation that goes into competing in this dynamic sport. Without the right mental preparation however, even the most physically gifted competitor will lose to an equal who is more mentally prepared.

Take for instance, Krzysztof Soszynski.

Soszynski’s early record was average at best, but in recent years he’s stepped up by focusing not just on the physical side of fighting, but also the mental side. Soszynkski trains with some of the top guys in the sport, and the results of that training are evident in the UFC news of bouts held recently in which the 32-year-old has won impresively.

The reason for Soszynski’s success? Increased focus on the psychological aspects of fighting.

Get Emotional Intelligence

Learning the psychological side of mixed martial arts involves becoming an emotionally intelligent fighter. This doesn’t mean sacrificing logic for the sake of emotion, or vice versa, but using both logic and emotion to maximize your skills as a fighter. By learning to control anger and fear and how to provoke it in others, you can realize a key tactical advantage that will stand you in good stead in MMA events.

Also, by developing your intellectual skills, you’ll be able to better analyze your opponent’s moves and know how best to execute your moves and counter his. This, again is an important part of any champion fighter’s skills.

The term “in the zone” is a reality. It’s the Zen-like state of consciousness that allows fighters the serenity and detachment necessary to forge their minds and bodies into a unified, complete fighting machine.

More Winners Embrace Mental Conditioning

If you look at the fighting greats, not all of them were the biggest or strongest guys on the canvas. In some cases their physical skills were really just average. The big difference for these fighters was their ability to master the mental aspect of fighting.

As MMA becomes increasingly popular, you can expect to see a greater level of analysis in UFC news coverage. This analysis will encompass how mental conditioning is every bit as important as physical conditioning, and will illustrate how it can make the difference between a good fighter and a great fighter.