Every action you perform inside the Octagon costs Stamina. The more rapidly you act, the faster your Stamina depletes, and the sooner you’ll become “gassed”—an exhausted state in which your fighter is unable to effectively attack or defend.
Once gassed, a fighter’s movement and striking speed are dramatically reduced, making him a sitting duck on the feet and vulnerable to lethal counters. In addition, all attribute and skill scores are significantly reduced while gassed, resulting in a significant overall disadvantage.
Stamina recovers over time, so it’s best to attack in short, measured bursts of offense. Get in, get off, and then get back out and catch your breath. Favor energy-efficient quick strikes to increase your punching volume without gassing so fast.
Don’t hesitate to back off and play defense if you’re becoming fatigued—you recover Stamina quickly when you’re not attacking.
Try to conserve your Stamina for times when you really need it—like after you’ve worn down or rocked your rival!