Cub Swanson Is Happy Being In The Mix, Would Take Fight With Penn Or Edgar

cub swanson grips gi

UFC Fight Night 44 headliner Cub Swanson has been on an impressive streak as of late, tearing through five straight in the featherweight division, and picking up four finishes since his 2011. His last loss was a submission against Ricardo Lamas when he debuted for the UFC back in 2011. Since then, the South Californian has looked on fire.

It’s understandable then that ‘Beautiful Destruction’ may have been a little puzzled in Joe Silva’s choice of his next opponent, Jeremy Stephens. Swanson had openly appealed for a title shot, but instead was set to face 3-0 as a featherweight ‘Lil’ Heathen’. Check out what the Jackson’s MMA product had to say about Stephens to MMAJunkie.com:

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At first, it was a little bit hard just because I feel like I knew right away the fans were – I read the stuff they send me and stuff like that, and I knew they were going to be a little disappointed because of the rankings… Granted, I don’t think he’s any easier of a fight just because of the number next to his name. … I thought there would be some complaints.”

It looked as though Swanson’s epic knockout of Denis Siver at UFC 162 may have capped off his run for a title fight, especially considering he knocked out George Roop, Ross Pearson, Charles Oliveira and decisioned Dustin Poirer too. He continued:

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I think stylistically and him just being undefeated in the division, I thought it was a good matchup, and really, it’s another matchup for me to go out there and get some more fans,” he said. “Because I feel like that’s all I’m lacking. I’m not a household name yet”

The UFC kept telling me that they didn’t have a fight for me. I’m a fighter, I want to fight. I got a big task at hand with Jeremy Stephens. I just want to make sure I look good in this fight. Fights like (BJ Penn or Edgar) are always great fights to take, I’d definitely take that fight. I’ve always thought I could do well against them, and it’s not always about getting the shot, it’s about securing your legacy. I’m just happy being in the mix at the top.”

It would be hard to ignore Swanson in the title picture if he beats Stephens this Saturday, and even harder to deny him a huge fight like the winner of Penn vs. Edgar, and with Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes goung down on August 2 at UFC 176; there are a wealth of options that would come for the Palm Springs native with a win at Fight Night 44.