In his 14-year mixed martial arts (MMA) career Cub Swanson has never took part in a title fight for any promotion he has competed for, and he's about fed up with it.
Over the years Cub Swanson has proven himself to be one of the most exciting, game, and devastatingly tough featherweights the UFC's 145-pound weight class has ever seen. Despite this, he has yet to compete for a title under the promotion's banner despite multiple opportunities the UFC had to make the fight.
Most recently UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway was set to make his first title defense against ex-155-pound champ Frankie Edgar. Unfortunately for "The Answer" he suffered an injury in training camp and was forced off the card.
Many believed that due to the unfortunate turn of events this could be Swanson's opportunity to step in and finally fight for the title. That was not to be, however, as the UFC instead decided to book a bout between Holloway and the man he beat to win the title - Jose Aldo.
Aldo was scheduled to take on former foe Ricardo Lamas at a UFC event later this year, but was instead removed from that fight to fight Holloway. The same courtesy could have been shown to Swanson given that he is also booked to take on Brian Ortega in early December.
Recently Swanson was interviewed on The MMA Hour to get his reaction to being snubbed as a replacement for the title fight, and admitted that now he believes the UFC doesn't think highly enough of him to put him in a title bout (quotes via MMA Mania):
“I am going to get paid the most if I fight for a title or hold a title. That’s when the big opportunities come, but I haven’t had that opportunity,” Holloway said on a recent edition of “The MMA Hour.”
“I wanted to fight out my contract to see what other companies were going to offer me and be able to show UFC like, ‘Look, I’m worth is, step it up.’ I want to fight in UFC, I love it.
"But, I also want to be taken care and show what I’m worth and I want to to be appreciated, I like that. I’m old school.
“I’m looking back at all the people that have gotten title fights — Chad Mendes got multiple, Frankie Edgar has gotten multiple, Aldo multiple, Korean Zombie got one out of nowhere, Ricardo Lamas got one.
"All the people at the top have all gotten them. Max took forever to get one and I was very vocal about him deserving a title fight.
"I just don’t see why in 10 years with the company I couldn’t have gotten one. I feel like maybe they don’t think that highly of me.”
What are your thoughts on Swanson saying that he doesn't believe the UFC thinks highly of him after snubbing him for a shot at the featherweight title? Do you think that Swanson is long overdue for a shot at the crown? And how would he fare in a rematch against "The Blessed One?" Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below!
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