“Iiiiiiiiiiit’s Tiiiiiimme!!” boomed Bruce Buffer’s voice throughout the humongous Sphere in Las Vegas as more than 16000 people roared and cheered for the blockbuster fights during UFC 306. Seems like witnessing a gladiator fight straight out of the Roman amphitheaters, doesn’t it? But what if the crowd suddenly goes silent? What if there are no cheers and deafening noise? Biggest fear for fighters? Maybe not but one of them for sure. Well, all of this came true during the COVID-19 pandemic when the whole world stood still and had to quarantine. The Dana White-led company was the first major sport to be back in action but had to ultimately make adjustments and shift their fights from big arenas like T-Mobile to UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
To the frustration of many fans and fighters, the venue is still being used for UFC Fight Nights 5 years after the pandemic. And fighters like Bo Nickal think it’s time to stop low-audience, less viral fights in the Apex. During an interview with Ariel Helwani, the middleweight prospect gave the biggest reason why UFC Apex was a roadblock to viral moments in the fights.
He said, “I would say, I fought twice at the Apex. So I would say the virality of the moment is like a fraction of what it would be with the crowd you know. I think of some big fights at the Apex you know. Francis and Stipe, Poirier vs Hooker. Like imagine those fights with the crowd imagine how many viral clips and highlights and moments they would be from these verses you know; no crowd no reaction.”
Nickal further reflected on this vibe, saying, “As a fighter walking in, it feels weird. It doesn’t even feel close to a real arena and a real crowd, and it feels like you’re just going out there to spar. So I think that it affects the competition. And yeah, I would love to see more shows in interesting places. I am excited to be in Des Moines to compete in Iowa.”
Bo Nickal talks fighting at the UFC Apex.#HelwaniShow pic.twitter.com/8fA7vctmGh
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) March 17, 2025
A fighter’s enthusiasm to step inside the cage is heavily influenced by the crowd — it’s like their oxygen. Picture this: you turn on the TV to watch a major UFC fight card, and the roar of 15,000 fans fills the arena as fighters make their walkout with music booming from the speakers. It’s magical— almost like you’re there in the midst of it all. Now take a smaller venue, where a fighter’s entrance is met with faint applause and a short walk to the cage. Feels more like your backyard than a multimillion-dollar UFC event, doesn’t it?
155lbs contender Renato Moicano didn’t mince words either, expressing frustration about the Apex back in February 2024. “Nobody likes the Apex, my brother. You can ask anybody. The fans hate the Apex. The fighters, I’m pretty sure they don’t like the Apex, too. … I know the UFC has so many fighters right now and [has] to make so many fights. It makes sense for Apex and ESPN. If you’re asking me if I’m happy to fight at the Apex, no way, brother.” he declared.
Even though Joe Rogan once praised the Apex, saying he enjoys it because “you can hear everything,” that’s hardly a win for fighters craving energy from the crowd. But let’s not forget — this is Dana White we’re talking about. The man who built the UFC into what it is today may just have a master plan up his sleeve. Never count him out.
Is Dana White’s Apex experiment going away anytime soon?
Last month, UFC CEO Dana White revealed plans to invest a hefty $30 million into expanding the UFC Apex arena. So the simple answer to this query is no! The upcoming renovations are expected to increase seating capacity and add more restroom facilities. But why revamp a venue that many in the MMA world have openly criticized?
Mark Shapiro, COO of TKO Holdings, shed some light on the decision during the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom conference. He explained, “When it comes to the UFC, our margin could be higher if we decided to do fewer international events. Maybe even fewer domestic touring events and do them in the Apex Arena in Las Vegas where you own the arena, and when you are watching on TV, you can’t tell if you are in a stadium or an arena or if you are at the small but mighty Apex that we have in Las Vegas.”
While shifting to more domestic events might frustrate some fans, it’s a move that is aimed at boosting UFC’s revenue. But from the perspective of fan experience, this is perhaps the most out-of-touch statement any official can give considering that the sport runs on electricity and buzz created by the audience and fans. Those green dollars can certainly wait!
Although Dana White has turned Power Slap into a $750 million business and then partnered with Turki Alalshikh for a new boxing league, the head honcho has a knack for bold and successful ventures. But even the expansion of an arena that is more fitting to store muted vessels can not match the mystique that a live crowd brings. What do you think about the Apex Arena? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
The post “No Crowd, No Reaction” – Bo Nickal Blames Dana White & Co.’s UFC Apex Decision For Taking a Toll On ‘Virality’ appeared first on EssentiallySports.