---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before I get in the cage or when I get in…"
description: "\"Before I get in the cage or when I get in the cage, I'm just staring at my opponent across the Octagon, and I almost get a kind of weird, almost euphor..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/chad-mendes-6076_adrenaline_before-i-get-in-the-cage-or-when-i-get-i_370658.jpg"
---

#  Before I get in the cage or when I get in the cage, I'm…

![“Before I get in the cage or when I get in the cage, I'm just staring at my opponent across the Octagon, and I almost get a kind of weird, almost euphoric, super-relaxed feeling. I don't know if that's an adrenaline dump, or if that's just your body calming yourself down before the adrenaline kicks…” quote by Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/chad-mendes-6076_adrenaline_before-i-get-in-the-cage-or-when-i-get-i_370658.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/chad-mendes-6076_adrenaline_before-i-get-in-the-cage-or-when-i-get-i_370658.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/chad-mendes-6076_adrenaline_before-i-get-in-the-cage-or-when-i-get-i_370658.jpg)

> “Before I get in the cage or when I get in the cage, I'm just staring at my opponent across the Octagon, and I almost get a kind of weird, almost euphoric, super-relaxed feeling. I don't know if that's an adrenaline dump, or if that's just your body calming yourself down before the adrenaline kicks in.”

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He describes a calm, almost euphoric state before a fight, possibly a physiological response that balances adrenaline and focus.

**In simple terms:** Pre‑fight calm before adrenaline surge.

Key Takeaway

Embrace calm to manage fight.

Themes

sports psychology focus adrenaline control

Mood

intense focused

Type

motivational psychological

When to use this quote

- combat sports
- public speaking
- high‑stakes presentations
- competition preparation

Key Concepts

mind‑body regulation performance anxiety

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you achieve calm before high pressure?
- What role does adrenaline play in your performance?

A Different Perspective

May not apply to non‑combat contexts.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Adrenaline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrenaline/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/)

## Related quotes

> [“The clock’s second hand swept past the twelve. I unloaded a final flurry of elbow strikes and stepped back. The adrenaline dump was largely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/the-clock-s-second-hand-swept-past-the-twelve-i-unloaded-a-final/)

[Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/)

> [When you do comedy shows, you usually don't finish until about 11 P.M. Then you have this adrenaline dump, and you get hungry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/when-you-do-comedy-shows-you-usually-don-t-finish-until-about-11-p-m/)

[Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/)

> [Drummers are conductors - we set the pace for the music - so if you're not relaxed and feeling right, the whole thing goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adler/drummers-are-conductors-we-set-the-pace-for-the-music-so-if-you-re/)

[Steven Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adler/)

> [I try to give the soft pop sound a natural relaxed feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/i-try-to-give-the-soft-pop-sound-a-natural-relaxed-feeling/)

[B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/)

> [“I felt the hairs on the back of my neck pop up, a fresh surge of adrenaline dump into my veins. My fight or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-felt-the-hairs-on-the-back-of-my-neck-pop-up-a-fresh-surge-of/)

[Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/)

> [“Three meters. I felt a fresh adrenaline dump in my torso, my limbs. His partners must have seen his face. Their shoulders tensed, their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/three-meters-i-felt-a-fresh-adrenaline-dump-in-my-torso-my-limbs-his/)

[Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/)

> [Ever notice how your senses are heightened when you are in challenging situations? You're experiencing an adrenaline rush that gives you extra energy. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/ever-notice-how-your-senses-are-heightened-when-you-are-in/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [I'm an adrenaline junkie. I love climbing crazy trees or cliffs, which doesn't make my mom very happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/i-m-an-adrenaline-junkie-i-love-climbing-crazy-trees-or-cliffs-which/)

[Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/)

> [My heart beats so hard it hurts, and I can't scream and I can't breathe, but I also feel everything, every vein and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/my-heart-beats-so-hard-it-hurts-and-i-can-t-scream-and-i-can-t/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [I don't get stage fright, I actually love the energy, I love the spontaneity, I love the adrenaline you get in front of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-burke/i-don-t-get-stage-fright-i-actually-love-the-energy-i-love-the/)

[Brooke Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-burke/)

> [You get that extra pump of adrenaline when you come back to the courts where you remember how well you've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/you-get-that-extra-pump-of-adrenaline-when-you-come-back-to-the/)

[Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/)

> [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/)

[Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/)

> [I think you just have extra adrenaline playing at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-bellinger/i-think-you-just-have-extra-adrenaline-playing-at-home/)

[Cody Bellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-bellinger/)

> [I have a lot of adrenaline. I have a naturally fast system. But I love to eat, and I am not skinny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/i-have-a-lot-of-adrenaline-i-have-a-naturally-fast-system-but-i-love/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/)

[Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/)

## More by Chad Mendes

> [This is how McGregor is, waging mental warfare before the fights. There's no way that guy is going to get in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/this-is-how-mcgregor-is-waging-mental-warfare-before-the-fights-there/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [Being explosive on the feet is different than grappling, with the squeezing and pushing and pulling. It's different on your muscles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/being-explosive-on-the-feet-is-different-than-grappling-with-the/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [The Guida KO showed that my striking has come a long way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/the-guida-ko-showed-that-my-striking-has-come-a-long-way/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [I'm just going to say Jose is a different beast, man. He's a tough dude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-m-just-going-to-say-jose-is-a-different-beast-man-he-s-a-tough-dude/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [I started swimming before I got into wrestling at, like, 4 years old, then I wrestled from, like, 5 years old through college, graduated,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-started-swimming-before-i-got-into-wrestling-at-like-4-years-old/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [Mainly because I just have some successful stuff going on outside the fight game, I feel good about life, and for me to really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/mainly-because-i-just-have-some-successful-stuff-going-on-outside-the/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [I can close the distance on anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-can-close-the-distance-on-anyone/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [I've been injured before in big competitions and it sucks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-ve-been-injured-before-in-big-competitions-and-it-sucks/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [For me, fighting, I love competing, but I don't love getting my head beat in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/for-me-fighting-i-love-competing-but-i-don-t-love-getting-my-head/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [I mean, I've had stuff done with my ribs before, cartilage separated, broken stuff. It's no joke, man. It just sucks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-mean-i-ve-had-stuff-done-with-my-ribs-before-cartilage-separated/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [There's a lot of guys who don't get to fight a guy three times after losing to him twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/there-s-a-lot-of-guys-who-don-t-get-to-fight-a-guy-three-times-after/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [I know I hit hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-know-i-hit-hard/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [After a win you usually come back and your spirits are high, you can look back at the fight and get excited. After a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/after-a-win-you-usually-come-back-and-your-spirits-are-high-you-can/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [This is where I started, this is where I'm going to end, this is what's made me who I am today as a fighter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/this-is-where-i-started-this-is-where-i-m-going-to-end-this-is-what-s/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

[Explore all 99 Chad Mendes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

## More Adrenaline quotes

> [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/)

[Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/)

> [I have a lot of adrenaline. I have a naturally fast system. But I love to eat, and I am not skinny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/i-have-a-lot-of-adrenaline-i-have-a-naturally-fast-system-but-i-love/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [I think you just have extra adrenaline playing at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-bellinger/i-think-you-just-have-extra-adrenaline-playing-at-home/)

[Cody Bellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-bellinger/)

> [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/)

[Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/)

> [You get that extra pump of adrenaline when you come back to the courts where you remember how well you've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/you-get-that-extra-pump-of-adrenaline-when-you-come-back-to-the/)

[Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/)

> [I don't get stage fright, I actually love the energy, I love the spontaneity, I love the adrenaline you get in front of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-burke/i-don-t-get-stage-fright-i-actually-love-the-energy-i-love-the/)

[Brooke Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-burke/)

> [My heart beats so hard it hurts, and I can't scream and I can't breathe, but I also feel everything, every vein and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/my-heart-beats-so-hard-it-hurts-and-i-can-t-scream-and-i-can-t/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [I'm an adrenaline junkie. I love climbing crazy trees or cliffs, which doesn't make my mom very happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/i-m-an-adrenaline-junkie-i-love-climbing-crazy-trees-or-cliffs-which/)

[Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/)

> [Ever notice how your senses are heightened when you are in challenging situations? You're experiencing an adrenaline rush that gives you extra energy. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/ever-notice-how-your-senses-are-heightened-when-you-are-in/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [I get called an adrenaline junkie every other minute, and I'm just fine with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-irwin/i-get-called-an-adrenaline-junkie-every-other-minute-and-i-m-just/)

[Steve Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-irwin/)

> [There’s something insupportable about being pissed with the one person on this planet that sends your adrenaline flowing to remind you that you’re alive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-castillo/there-s-something-insupportable-about-being-pissed-with-the-one/)

[Ana Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-castillo/)

> [And of course there is nothing better than wearing the same T-shirt for days and not brushing my hair for weeks,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daria-werbowy/and-of-course-there-is-nothing-better-than-wearing-the-same-t-shirt/)

[Daria Werbowy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daria-werbowy/)

> [Our training pushes us to develop a new set of instincts: instead of reacting to danger with a fight-or-flight adrenaline rush, we're trained to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/our-training-pushes-us-to-develop-a-new-set-of-instincts-instead-of/)

[Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/)

> [We put out real hip-hop at a time when it was turning into pop or R&amp;B ... We brought the focus back to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/we-put-out-real-hip-hop-at-a-time-when-it-was-turning-into-pop-or-r-b/)

[RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/)

> [I get an adrenaline rush from "playing with the big boys." I consider myself a tomboy and was an athlete in high school, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-alexander/i-get-an-adrenaline-rush-from-playing-with-the-big-boys-i-consider/)

[Megan Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-alexander/)

[Browse all 510 Adrenaline quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrenaline/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Before I get in the cage or when I get in the cage, I'm just staring at my opponent across the Octagon, and I almost get a kind of weird, almost euphoric, super-relaxed feeling. I don't know if that's an adrenaline dump, or if that's just your body calming yourself down before the adrenaline kicks in.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Chad Mendes"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/before-i-get-in-the-cage-or-when-i-get-in-the-cage-i-m-just-staring/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Adrenaline"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/before-i-get-in-the-cage-or-when-i-get-in-the-cage-i-m-just-staring/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/chad-mendes-6076_adrenaline_before-i-get-in-the-cage-or-when-i-get-i_370658.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/chad-mendes-6076_adrenaline_before-i-get-in-the-cage-or-when-i-get-i_370658.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/chad-mendes-6076_adrenaline_before-i-get-in-the-cage-or-when-i-get-i_370658.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Before I get in the cage or when I get in the cage, I'm just staring at my opponent across the Octagon, and…” — Chad Mendes",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Chad Mendes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Before I get in the cage...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/before-i-get-in-the-cage-or-when-i-get-in-the-cage-i-m-just-staring/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/before-i-get-in-the-cage-or-when-i-get-in-the-cage-i-m-just-staring/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
