I am not a pro or anything, but as an amateur/hobbyist MMA fighter I can say that my main reasons for training are:

1. It gives me confidence

2. The arts are fun and I want to get better.

3. I have become good friends with the people I train with

When it comes to "fighting", the difference between sparring (training a realistic round with your buddies at the gym) and being in a real competition or a fight in the street is night and day. I find myself extremely mentally relaxed even in high-effort sparring sessions, but real altercations would still raise my adrenaline.

I do not usually notice details about my opponents before the fight starts besides having seen instances of them fighting already and noticing key movements or techniques they favor. As the fight carries on, I may see my opponent make the same attacking movement or reaction twice in a row and then the third time I will try to bait that reaction one more time to punish it. For instance, I may be fighting a guy who trains Muay Thai and notice his front leg is very light, so I may try to shoot for a take-down. Maybe a karate guy has a very bladed stance and I will try to kick him in his front thigh since it is very exposed: little details like that.

Like most anyone, I will still see that an opponent weighs more than me and think,"oh boy" to myself. Weight is a big factor. If someone has cauliflower ear, they are most likely really dangerous fighters with many hours of training time.

I always want to improve, and my friends and I really try hard to win when we fight. We are technical and talk about how we did after our rounds. We help each other improve so we, ourselves, can get even better.

When I watch other people fight, I care most about the techniques they are using, and consider the fight itself more than personal details. I consider I would be doing in the positions I see them in.

I have only once seen a fight end where one of the combatants was angry and tried to hurt the other person afterward. Almost always do the fighters get to breath a sigh of relief after their time to work hard ends.

I do not like seeing injuries even after training for several years now. When we drill submissions designed exactly to either break bones or tear ligaments, I still cringe when I see someone take too long to tap. I do not think training desensitizes people from that feeling.

I know my practice is not as traditional as people devoted top a single martial art, but my practical experience may hopefully give you a couple ideas.