Cub Swanson closed the book on a 22-year MMA career in emphatic fashion, announcing his retirement after knocking out Nate Landwehr in the first round at UFC 327 at Kaseya Center.
Swanson entered the featherweight bout already determined it would be his final walk, then delivered a stoppage win with his wife Kenda Perez and their three children in attendance. He did not receive a post-fight bonus for the knockout.
"It feels great – I'm over it," Swanson said. "Fighting is painful, and I've been able to have a high threshold of pain for a long time and be able to ignore it and tell yourself, 'You're good, you're good.' But I'm over that part."
Looking ahead, Swanson plans to step fully into a coaching role. "I feel like I've accumulated a lot of knowledge in this timespan, and feel like I'm better off sharing that knowledge with the next generation," he said, noting his future focus on developing younger fighters at Bloodline Combat Sports in Palm Springs, California.
Swanson, 42, reflected candidly on his decision. "I'm 42 years old. Sometimes I sit back like, 'What are you still doing, dude? Get a job. Do something else.' I've had plenty of time to think about it."
Swanson is in the UFC Hall of Fame's Fight Wing for his 2016 win over Doo Ho Choi at UFC 206 in Toronto and holds more post-fight bonus awards than any featherweight in UFC history.
