Cub Swanson

Early Life

Swanson was born and raised mostly in Palm Springs, California with his four siblings. He had a Swedish-American father and a Mexican mother. Swanson's father died of cancer three months after he was born. His mother grieved heavily. A distant relative adopted Swanson and his siblings until his mother healed. The adoptive family was religious. So Swanson spent most of his early life in church. Swanson was also home-schooled for most of his young life. However, when Swanson was 14, his adoptive parents divorced. Swanson had to return to his mother. He then went to Cathedral City High School, along with future boxer Timothy Bradley.

As a teenager, Swanson associated himself with local gangs. Swanson participated in many streets fights. He also drank alcohol and took recreational drugs. The police arrested him and two of his friends for house robbery once. As a result, Swanson was placed in a juvenile detention center. He was released when he was 17 years old. Two years later, Swanson worked for United Cerebral Palsy. He helped children with social disabilities.

Swanson started played soccer from the age of four. He even thought of playing in the World Cup at once.

UFC fighter Joe Stevenson invited Swanson to train with him. He accepted. This marked Swanson's transition into professional MMA.

Early Career

On July 25, 2004, Cub Swanson made his first professional fight. MMA was sanctioned in California in 2004, so Swanson competed at Total Combat in Mexico. His opponent, Shannon Gugerty, submitted Swanson via Rear-Naked Choke. The fight lasted for just 30 seconds.

Despite the loss, Swanson continued to compete in professional MMA fights. Swanson won nine fights before entering the WEC in 2007. This included a rematch with Gugerty in 2006. Other than TC, Swanson also competed in KOTC and BIB.

2007

On his WEC debut on March 24, 2007, Swanson submitted Tommy Lee by guillotine choke. Swanson earned a disclosed pay of $6000. He next defeated Micah Miller at WEC 28 via unanimous decision.

Swanson then lost to former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver. Swanson attempted a single leg takedown in the first round. Pulver then caught Swanson in a guillotine choke, submitting him. The fight lasted 35 seconds only. The loss marked the end of Swanson's eleven fight winning streak.

2008

Hiroyuki Takaya took on Swanson on December 3, 2008, at WEC 37. Swanson won via unanimous decision. Both fighters earned the Fight of the Night honors. This was Swanson's first official WEC award.

2009

WEC schedule Swanson to fight Diego Nunes on April 5, 2009, at WEC 40. Nunes withdrew from the fight days before the bout due to a hand injury.

Swanson fought with José Aldo at WEC 41 on June 7. Just 8 seconds into the first round, Swanson lost by TKO via a double flying knee. Nevertheless, WEC gave Swanson a disclosed pay of $8940 Base.

Swanson defeated John Franchi via submission on November 18 at WEC 44. The fight earned Swanson his second Fight of the Night honor. In his bout against Franchi, Swanson broke both of his hands.

2010

WEC scheduled Swanson to fight WEC newcomer Chan Sung Jung. Swanson withdrew from the card with an injury. He would be replaced by Leonard Garcia.

On August 18, 2010, WEC 50, Swanson faced Chad Mendes. Mendes came from a wrestling background. He took Swanson down multiple through-out the fight. Swanson lost via unanimous decision.

Swanson faced Mackens Semerzier next on November 11 at WEC 52. He won the fight via split decision. The bout was an exciting back and forth affair that earned both fighters Fight of the Night honors.

2011

On October 28, 2011, WEC merged with Ultimate Fighting Championship. As part of the merger, most WEC fighter contracts transferred to UFC.

2011

Swanson was expected to face Erik Koch on March 3, 2011 at UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann. However, Swanson pulled out of the bout due to another injury.

Swanson vs. Koch was rescheduled to take place on July 2 at UFC 132. However, Swanson was forced out of the bout with another injury.

After just over a year out of action, Swanson returned to face Ricardo Lamas on November 12 at UFC on Fox 1. Swanson was the last WEC fighter imported from the WEC/UFC merger to debut in the UFC. He lost the fight via submission (arm triangle choke) in the second round.

2012

In his second UFC fight, Swanson faced George Roop on January 28, 2012, at UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis.Prior the fight, Swanson said "I just really want to smash this kid". He boasted "I'm the more complete fighter and I have the tools to shut him down". Swanson won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Ross Pearson and Swanson went head-to-head on June 22 at UFC on FX 4. Swanson won the fight via TKO in the second round, earning him Knockout of the Night bonus.

Swanson fought Charles Oliveira as an underdog on September 22 at UFC 152. Swanson won the fight by knockout in the first round. Swanson received a Knockout of the Night bonus.

Tapology Worldwide ranked Swanson as #14 MMA Fighter of the Year for 2012.

2013

Swanson was expected to face Dennis Siver on February 16, 2013, at UFC on Fuel TV: Barao vs. McDonald. However, Siver pulled out of the bout. Dustin Poirier took Siver's spot. Swanson won by unanimous decision.

Swanson's bout with Dennis Siver was rescheduled for July 6, 2013, at UFC 162. Swanson won via TKO in the third round. The performance earned both participants Fight of the Night honors.

As of March 2013, Swanson was ranked the #10 Featherweight in the world by Sherdog and ranked #5 within the UFC.

2014

Swanson challenged Jeremy Stephens on June 28 at UFC Fight Night 44. Swanson won via unanimous decision. The performance earned both participants Fight of the Night honors.

Swanson next faced Frankie Edgar on November 22 at UFC Fight Night 57. Prior the fight, UFC president Dana White promised that "If Cub Swanson wins this fight, we did tell him we would give him a title shot." “All I know is that," Swanson told Sherdog.com, "in my mind, I finish Frankie Edgar, that I’m getting that title shot. That’s all that’s on my mind.”. Swanson lost the one-sided fight via submission in closing seconds of the fifth round.

2015

Max Holloway challenged Swanson on April 18, 2015 at UFC on Fox 15. Swanson was out-struck in the first two rounds. Holloway then set up a guillotine choke in the third round, forcing Swanson to tap out. Following the fight, Swanson announced via Twitter that he had suffered a broken jaw and a broken right hand.

The two-loss-streak made Swanson drop out as a title contender. "It's really hard to explain," said Swanson in an interview, "You want something so bad and it may come and it may not, you can go crazy doing all of that."

2016

At his #10 UFC fight, Swanson faced Hacran Dias on April 16, 2016, at UFC on Fox 19. Swanson won the fight via unanimous decision.

Swanson faced Tatsuya Kawajiri on August 6 at UFC Fight Night 92. "I've been around forever, he's been around forever, so we're both just looking for a win," said Swanson in an interview. During the fight, Swanson kneed Kawajiri to the head, which was illegal since Kawajiri was downed at the time. Referee John McCarthy paused the fight shortly but no points are deducted from Swanson. Swanson won the back and forth fight via unanimous decision.

Swanson fought with touted prospect Doo Ho Choi on December 10 at UFC 206. Cub Swanson won the fight via unanimous decision. "I knew he (Choi) deserved the hype," said Swanson during the post-fight interview, "but he made a mistake calling me out. I wanted to prove to everyone that I’ve still got it. Don’t write me off again." Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night and later was awarded Fight of the Year at the World MMA Awards.

2017

Underdog Artem Lobov challenged Swanson to a fight on April 22 at UFC Fight Night 108. Swanson won the fight via unanimous decision . The fight broke the record for most significant strikes landed (209) in a UFC Featherweight bout and in a UFC Fight Night. It also came #4 in most significant strikes landed in a single bout. Subsequently, both participants were awarded a Fight of the Night awards. This was Swanson's sixth Fight of the Night bonus. He broke his hand for the 10th time in his career.

Fighting style

Many MMA media outlets say that Cub Swanson is one of the most entertaining MMA fighters. MMA junkie reported "Swanson's is as a man who will give you a gritty, exciting fight". Bloodyelbow.com comments "Cub's style tends to be wild, unpredictable, and very explosive". Swanson has 10 fight night bonuses for UFC/WEC featherweight bouts. This is the highest in combined divisional history. MMAfighting.com calls Swanson "an exciting fighter". MMA fans call Swanson's style as "Beautiful Destruction"

Swanson is known for his creative striking. Tapology.com ranks Swanson as #109 Best MMA Striker of All Time. Many pundits cite Swanson's ducking roundhouse kick / cartwheel kick to the head as his most distinct move. Swanson often sets up with a left hook, then follow up with a ducking roundhouse kick to the head. This combination was used against Artem Lobov. In other cases, Swanson would throw a single ducking roundhouse kick with no set up, like in his fight with Ross Pearson and Doo Ho Choi.

Swanson's movements are very unorthodox. He tends to feint while punching, as exemplified in WEC 52. Swanson often switches stance after kicking, something which he did against Dennis Siver. He also puts a lot of weight into his punches. Weight shifts gives him more power but shifts him off balance. This makes Swanson susceptible to take downs and counters. Similarly, Swanson's stance switches make him vulnerable to leg kicks. Low kicks tend to disrupt his footwork.

The UFC acknowledges Swanson's ground game. In his fight with Doo Ho Choi and Dennis Siver, Swanson escaped from inferior positions. Despite this, 5 out of Swanson's 7 losses are by submission. This raises questions over Swanson's submission defense. Swanson stated on his UFC profile that Superman double wrist lock is his favorite move. Interestingly, he has never submitted any of his opponents using that move.

Swanson stated on Reddit that Bruce Lee inspired him as a fighter.

Training

Swanson began training in MMA since 2003. His typical workout routine involves striking in the morning and cardio exercises in the afternoon. Grappling sessions take place at night. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu medalist Rigan Machado coaches Swanson's BJJ. Former boxing champion Joel Díaz teaches Swanson boxing.

Coaching

Cub Swanson owns a MMA gym, Tru MMA, in Indio, California.

UFC gym partnered with Cub Swanson to open a UFC gym in Costa Mesa. Swanson taught intermediate MMA classes at the UFC GYM on May 10, 2017. Classes included Boxing, kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. "As a native of Southern California," remarked Swanson on the UFC website,"I look forward to bringing this community, which is both near and dear to my heart, a myriad of amazing amenities and programs to help them TRAIN different and live a healthier lifestyle."

Personal life

Swanson is married to Kenda Perez. The two had their first child, Royal Rae Swanson, on August 21, 2017.

Steve Swanson, Cub Swanson's older brother, also competes in MMA. The two brothers train in and run their MMA gym True Gym together.

In his spare time, Swanson plays golf near his hometown at Indio, California. Golf club design enterprise PowerBilt sponsors Swanson.

Mixed martial arts