Swanson Would Like to Fight Koch

With Swanson healthy after his Jan. 28 win over George Roop, though, he’d like to give the bout another shot.

“We were supposed to fight twice last year and I got hurt twice,” Swanson told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show. “That’s a fight that I felt was a good matchup. It’s one that I had already prepared for, so why not? It’s not like I’m trying to pick fights that I know I can win. I feel confident about anybody I’m going to fight, but I’m wanting to take fights that I feel like are going to be good, exciting fights for the crowd.”

Koch had been scheduled to fight Dustin Poirer at UFC 143, but he dropped out of the bout due to an injury. Swanson explained that he would prefer to fight someone like Koch, who doesn’t hesitate to trade on the feet, as compared to a wrestler like Chad Mendes. When they met in August 2010, Mendes took down Swanson repeatedly but didn’t do much damage on the ground.

“I don’t want another fight like mine and Chad Mendes,” Swanson said. “No disrespect to him, but I don’t want to talk about that fight. I hate when fans tell me, ‘Oh yeah, I saw that fight,’ because that was like the boringest, most frustrating fight I was ever in. It sucked. I don’t feel like fans pay money to see that.”

Swanson certainly delivered an entertaining finish against Roop at UFC on Fox 2. He blasted his opponent with a right hand that sent his mouthpiece flying, then followed him to the ground with more punches for the finish 2:22 into the second round.

“It was kind of unreal,” Swanson said. “It’s something that I’ve dreamed about for a long time, just getting a real solid finish like that just to make a statement. It means a lot. I had my jaw wired shut last year and I was in the boxing gym barely able to breathe, just putting in work. I don’t take time off. I’m always in the gym whether I’m hurt or not and I’m glad it paid off.”

Regardless of whom he fights next, Swanson’s main concern is staying healthy. The 28-year-old’s career has been plagued with broken hands and other injuries. As hard as he hit Roop, though, his hands held up this time.

“They feel great,” Swanson said. “It’s crazy because I’m hitting like twice as hard nowadays. I implemented a great strength-training program. I work with the same people that Jon Jones works with. … I feel like I’m hitting a lot harder, but I’m taking all the precautions and wrapping my wrists, my hands and wearing all the protection I need. That way I don’t get injured anymore. Hopefully I can continue to keep fighting injury free.”

Listen to the full interview (beginning at 1:20:10).