Being promised a title shot by UFC President Dana White is like when you tell someone after a drunken one night stand that you’ll call them — it may or may not happen.
Featherweight contender Cub Swanson was all but guaranteed a shot at the 145-pound champion after his unanimous decision victory over Jeremy Stephens in June. However, after taking some time to think about it, Swanson decided to take another fight, rather than wait for the winner of Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes. At UFC Fight Night 57, he will get his second main event spot, this time against former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar.
Once again, Swanson was told by White that with a win over Edgar, he was guaranteed a shot at Aldo’s gold. The likelihood of him getting the shot is good with a win, but there is a one person spouting at the mouth who could get in his way — Conor McGregor. Does the Irishman make Swanson at all nervous about not getting granted the title shot?
“I’m not worried and I have no idea what he’s even talking about anymore,” Swanson told MMASucka.com. “I think he’s going senile to be honest.”
McGregor has climbed up to fifth on the UFC rankings with victories over Marcus Brimage, Max Holloway, Diego Brandao and most recently Dustin Poirier. Whether you love him or hate him, McGregor is being talked about.
“I’d love for everyone to put him on a pedestal and just put him way up there. When he falls off, it’s gonna be pretty funny — a little bit sad, but it’ll be funny.”
People think McGregor could be next in line for a title shot with a victory over Dennis Siver at UFC Fight Night 59 in January. Yes, it would be his fifth win in a row inside the Octagon, however Swanson or Edgar are the number two and three in the rankings, so either of them should be granted that shot.
On Monday, at “The Time is Now” press conference in Las Vegas, McGregor said they he wants Swanson to win so that he can smack him in the face with a pie. Would a fight with McGregor be an option for Swanson? Not a chance.
“I’ve got bigger and better things to do,” said Swanson. “As much as people are talking about him and think he’s the next big thing, well he can wait his damn turn. I’ve been in this division for seven years, I’ve been fighting the toughest fights, I don’t get special treatment, I’ve fought my way up here, so I don’t even want to hear it.”
His opponent in Austin, Texas is against a man who is the former lightweight title holder and featherweight title contender. On paper, Edgar might not seem like Swanson’s toughest test to date, as he has faced the likes of UFC Featherweight Champion Aldo, but he is a very tough fight and could make for the most important fight of his ten-year career.
“I don’t know. I feel like it’s definitely one of my biggest. I don’t know if it’s my toughest because I haven’t fought him yet. I’m expecting a very tough fight, but I’m also very confident in my ability and where I’m at in my career.”
Edgar is a two-time 155-pound champion and he’s already fought for the featherweight belt against Aldo. The former lightweight kingpin has fought the best in the world and has shown tremendous heart in all his outings, but everyone has to hit a wall at some point. Does Swanson think he will be hungrier than Edgar in this fight?
“Maybe, but I don’t know, only he knows that. I can’t expect to fight a lesser Frankie Edgar. I’m training for the Frankie Edgar that beat B.J. [Penn] three times, that had wars with Ben Henderson, that fought [Jose] Aldo to a close decision. In my mind, I’m fighting the best Frankie Edgar and that’s what I’ve got to think about.”
In four of Edgar’s last five outings he has gone to the judges scorecards. He tends to drag his opponents past their breaking point, but Swanson has made it his personal goal to not let that happen.
“I don’t want it to go past three rounds. He had specifically asked for five fives. I think that he feels that that’s the best option for him, is to take it to the decision. I see that as a personal challenge to not let it go that far.”
