Cub Swanson hasn’t determined whether or not or not he’s going to retire from preventing, but when his knockout win at UFC Tampa actually is the tip of his profession, he’s very happy with what he’s completed.
Heading into his co-main occasion struggle towards Billy Quarantillo this previous weekend, the 41-year-old veteran teased he was in all probability going to hold up his gloves sooner quite than later. Following one other Battle of the Night time efficiency capped off by a surprising third-round knockout, Swanson acknowledges that he in all probability couldn’t write a greater conclusion to his profession; nonetheless, he’s not fairly able to make that decision simply but.
“It truly is [the perfect ending],” Swanson instructed MMA Combating. “I really feel the alternative of what persons are saying. With an ending like that, it makes it even tougher to say yeah, possibly I’ll do one other one as a result of that made me completely happy. I really feel much less of an urge to leap proper again in there as a result of that’s the opposite factor, individuals don’t perceive how worrying preventing is.
“I stress about waking up the subsequent day and the way I really feel. Everybody texted me, my shut family and friends are texting me the subsequent day, ‘How are you feeling?’ I stated, ’41.’ I really feel it the subsequent day. I’m very completely happy how issues performed out and we’ll see what occurs.”
It’s exhausting to fathom that Swanson has been preventing for over 20 years along with his debut happening again in 2004. He’s spent the previous 17 years competing beneath the UFC umbrella — first within the UFC-owned World Excessive Cagefighting after which transitioning to the UFC itself after the promotion absorbed the entire WEC fighters.
Swanson confessed that he displays on his profession infrequently and the very fact he’s remained related among the many greatest fighters on the earth within the UFC for that lengthy is a big accomplishment. A few of the largest names within the sport are nearly there and gone inside just a few years, however Swanson has been a continuing presence within the UFC household for almost 20 years. That’s a minimum of one of many the explanation why he’s fully OK with calling it a profession proper now if that’s what he in the end decides.
“There’s the factor individuals don’t take into consideration: The game has advanced a lot in that point span,” Swanson defined. “Once I first began preventing, the D’Arce didn’t exist. The De La Riva guard didn’t exist. The Z-guard, there’s so many strikes that didn’t even exist after I began. I needed to evolve with that.
“I used to be telling someone the opposite day I used to be one of many first guys that was in an precise boxing health club. So everybody did conventional Muay Thai they usually fought like this with their arms up after which I used to be one of many first ones to start out shifting my head and guys can be like, ‘He’s exhausting to hit!’ Properly, yeah, you simply transfer! So boxing actually didn’t turn out to be an enormous a part of MMA till possibly 2010 and on. Earlier than that everybody simply did Muay Thai as a result of boxing coaches didn’t actually need to coach MMA fighters. The game’s advanced a lot so somebody who’s had an extended profession has needed to evolve with it. That takes a variety of dedication. The few of us which have achieved it, my hat’s off to all of them as properly.”
As a result of he’s seen so many fighters retire solely to return again a number of months and even a number of years later, Swanson doesn’t need to put himself or his household by that ordeal. He’s all the time rallied towards making an emotional determination within the cage after an enormous win or a heartbreaking loss.
Maybe laying down his gloves in the midst of the UFC octagon after successful this previous Saturday would have appeared like the right ending, however Swanson desires to offer himself time to consider what could possibly be a very powerful determination of his complete life.
“I need to ensure that I’m achieved,” Swanson stated. “I don’t need to be a man that’s wishy-washy and popping out on a regular basis like, ‘I’m again!’ I believe after I’m achieved, I’m achieved in order that’s why I’m taking my time with it and ensuring that I’m making the correct determination.”
If he’s being brutally trustworthy, Swanson says there’s a very good probability followers have already seen him compete within the UFC for the ultimate time even when he’s not 100% on that call but. Swanson is leaving the door open sufficient that he may settle for a proposal he simply can’t refuse, but when that provide by no means comes, he’d be happy along with his knockout at UFC Tampa being the ultimate mark on his Corridor of Fame résumé.
“In some unspecified time in the future I’ve acquired to say when’s sufficient, sufficient?” Swanson stated. “I’m fairly content material with what I’ve proper now … until one thing particular comes up, I believe I’m good.”
