Cub Swanson

Kevin Luke “Cub” Swanson is an American mixed martial artist born on the 2nd of November 1983, who fights in the UFC featherweight division.

Swanson went to Cathedral City High School with future boxer Timothy Bradley. He started training MMA after Joe Stevenson invited him to train.

Cub Swanson’s career before the UFC

Cub Swanson made his MMA debut in 2004 against veteran Sean Gugerty. Gugerty defeated Swanson by rear naked choke. After losing his debut, Cub Swanson went on an 11-fight winning streak, including avenging the loss to Gugerty by defeating him by TKO in the 2nd round.

Cub Swanson – Photo by MMAjunkie

At WEC 31 – Faber vs. Curran Swanson faced off against former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver, he lost by guillotine choke after 35 seconds of the first round. This marked the 2nd time that Swanson had been finished in the first minute of the fight.

Swanson rebounded with two straight wins and got a chance to fight a young up-and-comer from Brazil named Jose Aldo. Aldo landed a flying knee to the face of Swanson in the opening seconds of the fight and he lost by TKO after 8 seconds.

Swanson went 2-1 in his last three WEC fights before his fighter contract was transferred to the UFC. He finished his WEC career strong with a Fight of the Night award in his last fight.

Cub Swanson’s career in the UFC

Cub Swanson made his UFC debut on UFC on FOX 1 – dos Santos vs. Velasquez versus Ricardo Lamas. Swanson lost the fight by arm triangle in the 2nd round.

Swanson rebounded with six straight wins, and defeated such veterans as Jeremy Stephens, Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira. His second UFC loss came against former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar by submission in the last round, and another loss to future featherweight champ Max Holloway.

Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Cub Swanson – Photo by Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

He then went on a four fight unbeaten streak, beating top competition like Hacran Dias and “Korean Superboy” Doo Hoo Choi.

The winning streak was snapped when Cub Swanson faced Brian Ortega in the main event of UFC Fight Night 123: Swanson vs. Ortega the 9th of December in Fresno, California. Swanson lost by submission in the 2nd round.