Cub Swanson hasn’t determined whether or not or not he’s going to retire from preventing, but when his knockout win at UFC Tampa actually is the tip of his profession, he’s very happy with what he’s completed.
Heading into his co-main occasion struggle in opposition to Billy Quarantillo this previous weekend, the 41-year-old veteran teased he was in all probability going to hold up his gloves sooner quite than later. Following one other Battle of the Evening efficiency capped off by a shocking third-round knockout, Swanson acknowledges that he in all probability couldn’t write a greater conclusion to his profession; nonetheless, he’s not fairly able to make that decision simply but.
“It truly is [the perfect ending],” Swanson informed MMA Combating. “I really feel the other of what persons are saying. With an ending like that, it makes it even tougher to say yeah, possibly I’ll do one other one as a result of that made me glad. I really feel much less of an urge to leap proper again in there as a result of that’s the opposite factor, folks don’t perceive how tense preventing is.
“I stress about waking up the subsequent day and the way I really feel. Everybody texted me, my shut family and friends are texting me the subsequent day, ‘How are you feeling?’ I mentioned, ’41.’ I really feel it the subsequent day. I’m very glad how issues performed out and we’ll see what occurs.”
It’s laborious to fathom that Swanson has been preventing for over 20 years along with his debut going down again in 2004. He’s spent the previous 17 years competing underneath the UFC umbrella — first within the UFC-owned World Excessive Cagefighting after which transitioning to the UFC itself after the promotion absorbed all the WEC fighters.
Swanson confessed that he displays on his profession now and again and the very fact he’s remained related among the many finest fighters on this planet within the UFC for that lengthy is a large accomplishment. A number of the greatest names within the sport are nearly there and gone inside just a few years, however Swanson has been a relentless presence within the UFC household for practically twenty years. That’s a minimum of one of many the reason why he’s fully OK with calling it a profession proper now if that’s what he finally decides.
“There’s the factor folks don’t take into consideration: The game has advanced a lot in that point span,” Swanson defined. “Once I first began preventing, the D’Arce didn’t exist. The De La Riva guard didn’t exist. The Z-guard, there’s so many strikes that didn’t even exist once I began. I needed to evolve with that.
“I used to be telling any individual the opposite day I used to be one of many first guys that was in an precise boxing fitness center. So everybody did conventional Muay Thai they usually fought like this with their arms up after which I used to be one of many first ones to begin shifting my head and guys can be like, ‘He’s laborious to hit!’ Properly, yeah, you simply transfer! So boxing actually didn’t develop into an enormous a part of MMA till possibly 2010 and on. Earlier than that everybody simply did Muay Thai as a result of boxing coaches didn’t actually wish to coach MMA fighters. The game’s advanced a lot so somebody who’s had a protracted profession has needed to evolve with it. That takes numerous dedication. The few of us which have finished it, my hat’s off to all of them as nicely.”
As a result of he’s seen so many fighters retire solely to come back again a number of months and even a number of years later, Swanson doesn’t wish to put himself or his household by means of that ordeal. He’s all the time rallied in opposition to making an emotional determination within the cage after an enormous win or a heartbreaking loss.
Maybe laying down his gloves in the midst of the UFC octagon after profitable this previous Saturday would have appeared like the right ending, however Swanson needs to present himself time to consider what could possibly be crucial determination of his total life.
“I wish to make sure that I’m finished,” Swanson mentioned. “I don’t wish to be a man that’s wishy-washy and popping out on a regular basis like, ‘I’m again!’ I feel once I’m finished, I’m finished in order that’s why I’m taking my time with it and ensuring that I’m making the suitable determination.”
If he’s being brutally trustworthy, Swanson says there’s probability followers have already seen him compete within the UFC for the ultimate time even when he’s not 100% on that call but. Swanson is leaving the door open sufficient that he might settle for a suggestion he simply can’t refuse, but when that provide by no means comes, he’d be happy along with his knockout at UFC Tampa being the ultimate mark on his Corridor of Fame résumé.
“In some unspecified time in the future I’ve received to say when’s sufficient, sufficient?” Swanson mentioned. “I’m fairly content material with what I’ve proper now … except one thing particular comes up, I feel I’m good.”
