Cub Swanson Refuses to Beg for UFC Title Shots | MMAWeekly.com

While fighters of late have received title shots with witty post-fight quotes or clever social media campaigns, UFC featherweight Cub Swanson has set himself apart from that crowd.

Following a win over Jeremy Stephens at UFC Fight Night San Antonio on Saturday, Swanson proclaimed that title shots, while they remain one of the most desirable fates for him, aren’t going to be asked for by him. Instead, the fighter said he would like let his fights do the pleading for him.

“For me, winning a title is just like a dream. It’s something I want to do so bad, but it’s something I feel is going to come to me if I just keep doing what I’m doing,” Swanson said at the UFC Fight Night San Antonio post-fight news conference. “If I keep doing what I’m doing — what I’m supposed to do — it’ll come. I just don’t feel like I have to beg or try to ask for it. If I just keep putting on good performances, it’ll come.”

Swanson outpaced, outstruck and outlasted Stephens in the main event for the fight card in Texas, grabbing a unanimous decision, as well as Fight of the Night honors.

The performance might have warranted a call-out of UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo or No. 1 contender Chad Mendes, but Swanson refused to make any comment demanding a title shot.

Aldo and Mendes are currently scheduled to fight in rematch at UFC 176 on Aug. 2 in Los Angeles. Swanson likely earned himself a shot at the winner with his performance on Saturday.

When asked if he would be able to step in for either Aldo or Mendes if one of the two were injured before their bout, Swanson acknowledged that he would. The fighter joked that his post-fight snacks may hinder his ability to make weight in time.

“As long as I don’t eat any cookies tonight,” he said, laughing.

Swanson has history with both Aldo and Mendes. In 2009, he lasted only eight seconds to Aldo before being the recipient of a flying knee that stopped their WEC 41 bout. In 2010, Swanson dropped a unanimous decision to Mendes at WEC 50.