Not many people seemed to be predicting that Tony Ferguson would be dominated by Charles Oliveira at UFC 256. So, since that’s what happened, there’s been a lot of debate about whether ‘El Cucuy’s’ best days could be behind him.

Well, recently Dan Hooker weighed-in on the fight, and Ferguson’s performance, and he believes the lack of a crowd had a significant impact.

Hooker says Ferguson’s a “crowd fighter”

Leading up to the event, hardcore fans and observers knew that Oliveira had the potential to test Ferguson big time, and of course, defeat him. Afer all, Oliveira was on a seven-fight winning streak and he’s one of the most noted finishers on the UFC roster.

But, at the same time, the consensus seemed to be that Ferguson would likely emerge victoriously. Although ‘El Cucuy’ was stopped by Justin Gaethin in May, Ferguson is one of the best lightweights of this generation.

Oliveira’s wrestling and top game dominated the action, however, and Ferguson dropped a one-sided decision. While talking to Submission Radio since then, Hooker offered this take on what went down (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“It’s pretty obvious to me what’s happened… (Tony)’s a crowd fighter, he draws energy from the crowd,” Hooker said. “Under those big moments, under the pressure, 10, 20, 30-thousand people there, you can’t tell me that doesn’t change the environment of the situation.

And Charles Oliveira, to me, he’s a fighter that traditionally doesn’t do very well under the pressure of those big fights. You look at any big fight he’s had in his past, and he freezes, or he’ll crumble under the pressure of those big fights.

So, to me, that’s what it was. Tony wasn’t awake. Tony didn’t look like he’d been riled up. And Charles Oliveira was in the zone, in his element, and freely doing his thing.”

“You can’t tell me that doesn’t change what you’re doing. Everyone is awesome at doing their day job, but it’s like, if you had to do your day job with 20,000 people there, yelling, screaming, getting you hyped up.

It’s just the whole – I’ve been through it, I’ve been through it before. I fought twice this year. Once in my hometown in front of a sold-out stadium of my countrymen, and then flying over to Las Vegas to the APEX where those two fought, and it’s dead, it’s quiet.

I was the same. I like the crowds, I function well, and I love the pressure. I feel like it just builds.

But, it’s the whole week. Open workouts, weigh-ins. When you got the crowds there, you can draw energy from it and it gets you going, or it makes fighters cramp up and freeze.”

Interesting point

This is a really interesting take. Even if you suspect that the soon to be 37-year-old Ferguson isn’t the force he once was, it would be silly to toss out Hooker’s thesis here.

Ferguson has said he felt flat before the fight.

Now, does any of this mean that Ferguson wouldn’t have lost if fans had been in attendance? Maybe, maybe not. 

Maybe the bout would have just been closer?