Cub Swanson says he is taking one more fight before retirement, as he prepares to face Nate Landwehr in Saturday’s UFC main card opener at Kaseya Center.
Swanson, 42, holds a 30-14 MMA record and is 15-10 in the UFC. He is scheduled to meet Landwehr, who is 18-7 in MMA and 5-5 in the UFC. The bout is set as the main card opener.
Swanson explained that he was close to walking away after his knockout win over Billy Quarantillo in December 2024. "I honestly was very content to be done at that point. I had been talking about retirement, and being very open to it, and I wanted to be 100 percent sure."
He added that he wanted to avoid a rushed call on his future. "I didn't want to make an emotional decision. I kept it to myself. I tried to for a while. I was really close to being done and then Sean Shelby started asking if I wanted to fight again, and saying they'd love to have me. The opportunity came to shine a light on what I'm doing next, and it made sense."
Swanson also reflected on what has kept him going this long in the sport. "My stubbornness, one," he said, before crediting his mindset and approach. "My ability to ask for help, my ability to adapt, and try to be better and never – I never bought my own hype. I think that's important."
