Cub Swanson wasn’t chosen to replace the injured Frankie Edgar against UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway at UFC 218, because Jose Aldo was.
The featherweight contender is becoming frustrated with the UFC, especially after getting passed over for the title shot.
“It was between me and Frankie (for the original title shot), and then Frankie got it, and it was a tough pill to swallow, and I got over it,” Swanson said on The MMA Hour. “And I thought for sure, if anybody wouldn’t pull out of a fight, it would be him, because I think he’s the kind of guy who would fight through a torn knee or anything. But I guess he has a fracture in his face or something like that, and that’s something that you can’t fight through, so I was shocked when I found out that he was pulling out, and then I was like, ‘Wow, this going to happen.’ I had such an amazing camp. I helped T.J. (Dillashaw) train for his fight. Over here at Jackson’s now, I’m ahead of schedule. This is just too perfect. And I was trying to get ahold of the UFC, let them know, and they told me that they were trying to figure it all out, it’s kinda madness. And then they told me that they were going to give it to Aldo.”
Aldo and Holloway are meeting in the Octagon for the second time, it was Holloway who won their initial clash and the UFC Featherweight Title at UFC 212.
Swanson also wanted to get a crack at the championship because he believes that he is on the later side of his MMA career.
“I just explained to them that, hey, I’m getting on the later side of my career,” Swanson said. “I’ve never been doing better. I have a family now, and it’s like, if I’m going to start concentrating on my retirement and setting myself up so I’m not left with nothing at the end of the day, I should be getting paid more. The money that I have coming in, I’m investing, I’m doing all of the right things. I’m not blowing money. I’m not that guy. And it’s like, man, if I had more money to work with, I could really set myself up, so that’s what I’m fighting for.”
UFC Fight Night Fresno takes place on Saturday, December 9 from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California with Cub Swanson and Brian Ortega headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on Fox Sports 1.
