Due to a knee injury, Cub Swanson had yet to compete in the COVID-19 era of the UFC, behind closed doors. While the accomplished and entertaining fighter gets pumped up by crowds, Swanson’s admitted he enjoyed the fan-less experience at UFC 256.

Swanson outlines why he enjoyed fighting with no crowd

The 37-year-old fighter returned to the cage this past weekend for the first time since October, 2019, when he outscored Kron Gracie for the decision win. At a Quintet Ultra event a couple of months later, however, Swanson tore his ACL and had yet to fight in 2020.

At UFC 256, Swanson faced Daniel Pineda, and he put away the featherweight in round two. After the event, which took place at the UFC’s Apex Facility, Swanson (27-11) had this to say about fighting with no fans in attendance (quote via MMA Junkie).

“I love the crowd. It’s awesome, but it’s a double-edged sword. It can get in your head sometimes. I’m an emotional fighter around fight time and it can play on my emotions and get me all amped up, and sometimes that’s not the best thing.

I was really focusing on being really technical and being really sharp and being really efficient, and I was able to do that. Having really light media, just being in my room hanging out with my corner – I love that.

I’m super quiet around fight time, so not having to do all the extra stuff and meet fans, as much as I do love it … but right before I fight, I’d rather be in the zone. So I did enjoy it.”

Fair enough, and we’ve seen other fighters make similar comments. It’s also much easier for fighters to hear their corners and instructions from coaches with no fans screaming etc.

Swanson wanted to avoid the “crazy zone”

The California fighter also said the following, when asked about the key moments of the fight.

“I get myself pumped up and psyched for the fight. I just want to wreck the guy, and I’m just flexing. It makes you slow. It’s made me literally think in fights I’ve had in the past, most recent fights, ‘Did you get slower?’ It just didn’t feel the way it used to and it made me doubt myself a little and I knew that I just needed to relax.

I needed to just let my punches go and flow and have fun. You don’t ever get to do that. You put so much pressure on yourself.

You’re squeezing and trying to hit as hard as possible and not just going out there and letting it happen.

So that was my goal. I didn’t want to warm up too crazy. I didn’t want to psych myself up and get in this crazy zone – just go out there and do what I do…”

There you have it. Now it will be interesting to see who Swanson faces next. He’s built some momentum with the consecutive wins, after dropping four straight.

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