Cub Swanson (21-6 MMA, 6-1 UFC) likely punched his ticket to a UFC featherweight championship fight on Saturday night with a unanimous decision victory over Jeremy Stephens (23-10 MMA, 10-9 UFC) in the UFC Fight Night 44 headliner.
The stakes for Swanson and Stephens were clear prior to the fight, and even though title shots are never guaranteed in the UFC, the nature of Swanson’s victory, plus his six-fight UFC winning streak, makes him hard to deny. Now he must wait to see who emerges victorious from the UFC 176 headliner between divisional kingpin Jose Aldo and No. 1 contender Chad Mendes.
To see what fans, media and fighters in the MMA community thought about Swanson’s sixth consecutive UFC victory, read the Twitter reactions below:??https://twitter.com/ufc/status/483108480425816064
Here we go!!!! Been waiting for this fight!!!! @FOXSports1 Cub vs Jeremy!! I love this fight—
Dana White (@danawhite) June 29, 2014
Good entrance song choice by stevens—
Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) June 29, 2014
Pumped for @LiLHeathenMMA vs @CubSwanson fight! It's gonna be an absolute scrap!!!—
Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) June 29, 2014
Will 12-months away from the Octagon hinder Cub Swanson?—
Sherdog.com (@sherdogdotcom) June 29, 2014
I feel like Cub Swanson is missing an opportunity if he doesn't someday open a friendly neighborhood tavern called Cub Swanson's.—
Chad Dundas (@chaddundas) June 29, 2014
I can't stop thinking about the time Dana tried to get Jeremy Stephens out of jail to fight. That was the best thing.—
Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) June 29, 2014
Loving the addition of divisional statistics to the walk-out graphics.—
Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) June 29, 2014
Good choice in walk out music by @LiLHeathenMMA. Can't go wrong with Mobb Deep. #UFCFightNight—
James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) June 29, 2014
Its time for the main event, lets fucking get them @LiLHeathenMMA- you got this!!! #mma @ufc RT—
Chris Leben (@cripplerufc) June 29, 2014
Let's go @CubSwanson !!!! Kill it bro #UFCFightNight—
Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) June 29, 2014
I think Cub is going to win—
Kyle Kingsbury (@Kingsbu) June 29, 2014
Have a feeling this is gonna be something special! #swanson #stephens—
Dave Sholler (@Sholler_UFC) June 29, 2014
This fight??—
Scott jorgensen (@Scottjorgensen) June 29, 2014
Cub's speed is too much for Stephens early. Let's see if Jeremy can adjust.—
Luca FurysFightPicks (@FurysFightPicks) June 29, 2014
That right hand landed with a thud. Damn.—
Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) June 29, 2014
I've yelled "OH!" twice this fight. This is a good fight.—
pdl (@pdlmma) June 29, 2014
Cub Swanson may have my favorite guard game in the UFC. Sits up, threatens with guillotines/kimuras and takes no damage.—
RJ Clifford (@RJcliffordMMA) June 29, 2014
Razor close round, think id have to give it to Stevens, but could go cubs way just for having those sick shorts!??—
Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) June 29, 2014
Damn Jeremy Stephens looks so much bigger than Cub Swanson!—
James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) June 29, 2014
Close rnd.
Maybe cub. But really anyone's rnd—
TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) June 29, 2014
Stevens made some good adjustments in rd 2 and pressured cub. Fight even but I think Stevens hurt something in that rd just don't know what—
Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) June 29, 2014
Stephens has frightening power. I cringe when he lands. The guy could kill somebody.—
(@Fight_Ghost) June 29, 2014
I'm pumped this is a 5 rounder too—
Dana White (@danawhite) June 29, 2014
Stephens uppercut cracks Cub, then the big right. Another straight right. That right from Stephens is pulvering Cub each time it lands.—
Heidi Fang (@HeidiFang) June 29, 2014
Oof. Jeremy Stephens might be overly reliant on that right hand, but it will spin you around if it catches you right.—
Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) June 29, 2014
Got Stevens up 2-0—
Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) June 29, 2014
Cub showing off the chin that round. Probably can't afford to show it off too much more.—
Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) June 29, 2014
Get a man hurt stay with body attack—
TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) June 29, 2014
Why Cub why? Why no more body shots? Why?—
(@Fight_Ghost) June 29, 2014
My guys in the truck are saying Jeremy broke his hand. We will see this next break—
Dana White (@danawhite) June 29, 2014
There seems to be some kind of fight in the crowd right behind Stephens’ corner.—
Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) June 29, 2014
Cub dominant in that round. 2-1 Stevens—
Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) June 29, 2014
Excellent round for Cub. 29-28 Swanson heading to fourth—
Kevin Iole (@KevinI) June 29, 2014
Big rd 3 for cub, landing a body kick which froze Stevens and followed up with multiple strikes. Love the @IKEVF @clayguida cheering section—
Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) June 29, 2014
I have it 2 to 1 Jeremy. How do u have it?—
Dana White (@danawhite) June 29, 2014
Cub being smart/experienced enough to swivel his head off-center while throwing kicks have made for narrow misses on Stephens' counters.—
Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) June 29, 2014
3-1 Swanson after 4 rounds. Could be closer.—
Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) June 29, 2014
Conspiracy theory: UFC broadcasts are designed to run late in order to force people to DVR "FOX Sports Live." Also, aliens killed JFK.—
Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) June 29, 2014
Wow, Cub Swanson didn't know how many rounds he had left to work. Yeeesh,—
David St. Martin (@SaintMMA) June 29, 2014
Dominick Cruz INTENSELY watching teammate Jeremy Stephens. http://t.co/aK8xAB2fve—
RJ Clifford (@RJcliffordMMA) June 29, 2014
3-1, Cub. But two rounds were close and crazy stuff be happening in them Southwest states.—
Gorgeous George (@MMAjunkieGeorge) June 29, 2014
In my opinion, whoever wins this round wins the fight…—
Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) June 29, 2014
Got cub 1,3 and 4—
TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) June 29, 2014
I have cub up 3-1 but some close rds in there. No resting for cub in rd 5—
Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) June 29, 2014
4th round could have gone either way! Could be even! They gotta drop bombs in this last round.—
Dana White (@danawhite) June 29, 2014
I ?? CUB!!—
Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) June 29, 2014
Wow good fight . Stevens rounds 1,2. Swanson 3,4,5 . 48-47 CUB #UFCFightNight—
Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) June 29, 2014
Holy fuck, that was one of the best fight ever!!! @LiLHeathenMMA awesome job—
Chris Leben (@cripplerufc) June 29, 2014
Great fight. I have it 49-46 for Swanson.—
Steven Marrocco (@MMAjunkieSteven) June 29, 2014
great fight @LiLHeathenMMA and @CubSwanson two badass mofos—
Mike Brown (@mikebrownmma) June 29, 2014
I would have to say cub won that fight 3-2—
Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) June 29, 2014
The judges got it right. @CubSwanson gets the win. Very technical & tactical fight from both guys. #UFCFightNight44—
Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) June 29, 2014
Congrats @CubSwanson on a great win. A title shot is looking close in your future.—
John Dodson III (@JohnDodsonMMA) June 29, 2014
Statute of limitations has expired on Jose Aldo's WEC knockout. Get Cub Swanson hit title shot.—
Dave Doyle (@davedoylemma) June 29, 2014
When asked by Anik what he wants next, Swanson says, "I don't beg."—
Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 29, 2014
Swanson's sixth-straight UFC win ties FW champ Jose Aldo and Dennis Bermudez for longest active UFC win streak in the FW division.—
Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) June 29, 2014
rough night for Jeremy Stephens, gets lumped up by Swanson and then denied a handshake by Anik http://t.co/B5rHrQmB9c—
Chris Nelson (@3ammma) June 29, 2014
UFC Fight Night 44 results: Cub Swanson tops Jeremy Stephens in five-round shootout wp.me/p3WzJ0-uSK—
(@MMAjunkie) June 29, 2014
For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 44, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.
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