The motivation that the crowd can inject into a fighter is undeniable. Every fighter wants to hear the roar from the crowd after a huge strike, a well-timed takedown and, of course, when their name is being announced as the winner by Bruce Buffer.
As has been the case for much of 2020, that extra boost from the crowd isn’t possible right now. There’s been mixed reviews from the fighters, but it seems a majority prefer the intimacy a crowd-less fight has provided.
Originally, Charles Jourdain wasn’t on that side. When Jourdain prepared for Andre Fili back in June, he was expecting that he may underperform.