Mike “Quick” Swick Plans to Return to the Middleweight Division

The last few years of Mike Swick’s fighting career have been marred with injuries and illness.  With that behind him, Swick plans to return to the middleweight division in his next fight.

“I wanna come back at a big and healthy 185. No more sickly 170 for me,” Swick recently posted on Twitter.

After making a name for himself in the WEC, Swick was featured on the debut season of The Ultimate Fighter in 2005 as a light heavyweight.  He advanced to the semifinals before losing to Stephan Bonnar by submission.

Following his appearance on the reality show, Swick reeled off five consecutive wins in the middleweight division, reaching contender status.  At UFC 69, Swick faced a bigger and stronger Yushin Okami and was soundly defeated.  After the loss, he decided to drop to the welterweight division.

“I was 182, in ring, when I fought Okami. I am 200 now,” Swick recently tweeted.

Swick had a successful run in the welterweight division, winning his first four fights.  He faced Dan Hardy in a top contender’s bout at UFC 105 and was defeated by unanimous decision.  He lost his next outing to Paulo Thiago by submission.

Swick would be sidelined with injuries and a misdiagnosed stomach illness for more than two years following the loss to Thiago.

He returned in August 2012 against DeMarques Johnson, winning by knockout.

Swick last competed in December, losing by knockout to Matt Brown.

Bigger, stronger and healthier, Swick will return to the middleweight division in his next fight.  No opponent or date has been announced for his return, but is expected in the coming weeks.

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