To raise somebody's spirits by complimenting them, for the purpose of instigatingsomething. Generally, one does this to the weaker of two opponents so that they will believe they can win.
"Syce that man's head up! Make that nigga fight!"
Which would be accomplished by....
"C'mon man; think about all the time you spent in the gym! Just cause that man's bigger than you....it's the size of the fight in the dog, not the size of the dog in the fight!"