Kevin Luke “Cub” Swanson is an American mixed martial artist. He is a free agent as of December 2017. He formerly competed as a featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of August 7, 2017, he is #4 in the official UFC featherweight rankings, and the #5 featherweight in the world per Sherdog.
As a teenager, Swanson associated himself with local gangs. He participated in many streets fights. He also drank alcohol, took recreational drugs and was indulged in robbery due to which he was arrested and placed in a juvenile detention center. He was released when he was 17 years old. Two years later, he worked for United Cerebral Palsy and also helped children with social disabilities.
He started playing soccer from the age of four. UFC fighter Joe Stevenson invited him to train with him. This marked Swanson’s transition into professional MMA.
On July 25, 2004, Cub Swanson made his first professional fight at Total Combat in Mexico. against Shannon Gugerty and was submitted via Rear-Naked Choke. The fight lasted for just 30 seconds.
Despite the loss, Swanson continued to compete in professional MMA fights. He 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.
On his WEC debut in March 2007, Swanson submitted Tommy Lee by guillotine choke. He next defeated Micah Miller at WEC 28 via unanimous decision.
He next faced Jens Pulver at WEC 31, with Swanson attempting a single leg takedown in the opening seconds, but Pulver catching him in a guillotine choke and submitting him. The fight only lasted 35 seconds and marked the end of Swanson’s eleven fight winning streak.
He fought with Jose Aldo at WEC 41 on June 7. Just 8 seconds into the first round, Swanson lost by TKO via a double flying knee.
In August 2010 , at WEC 50, Swanson faced Chad Mendes and lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Then he faced Mackens Semerzier next on November 2010 at WEC 52 and won the fight via split decision.
Swanson returned to face Ricardo Lamas in November 2011 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.
Ross Pearson and Swanson went head-to-head in June 2012 at UFC on FX 4. Swanson won the fight via TKO in the second round, earning him Knockout of the Night bonus.
He next fought Charles Oliveira as an underdog in September 2012 at UFC 152 and won the fight by knockout in the first round. He received a Knockout of the Night bonus. Tapology Worldwide ranked Swanson as #14 MMA Fighter of the Year for 2012.
He challenged Jeremy Stephens on June 28 at UFC Fight Night 44 and won via unanimous decision.
He next faced Frankie Edgar on November 22 at UFC Fight Night 57 and lost the one-sided fight via submission in closing seconds of the fifth round.
Max Holloway challenged Swanson in April 2015 at UFC on Fox 15. Holloway set up a guillotine choke in the third round, forcing Swanson to tap out.
Swanson faced Tatsuya Kawajiri in August 2016 at UFC Fight Night 92 and won the back and forth fight via unanimous decision. He then fought with touted prospect Doo Ho Choi in December 2016 at UFC 206 and won the fight via unanimous decision.
Swanson faced Brian Ortega in December 2017 at UFC Fight Night 123. He lost the back-and-forth fight via submission in the second round. He holds a professional record of 25 wins and 8 losses.
Swanson is expected to face Frankie Edgar in a rematch on April 21, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 128.