UFC in talks to book Cub Swanson vs. Frankie Edgar

Cub Swanson may have to clear yet another hurdle before securing his elusive first UFC title shot.

After initially resisting a bout against former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, Swanson (21-5), the No. 2 ranked featherweight contender, is now open to the proposed match-up, MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani reported on UFC Tonight.

Swanson currently rides a six-fight win streak, second only to Dennis Bermudez among the division’s many contenders. Following his latest victory, a thrilling ‘Fight of the Night’ decision over Jeremy Stephens, the 30-year-old Swanson was all but promised a title shot against the winner of Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes. However, the postponement of Aldo vs. Mendes into late-October now means that Swanson may fight again before the end of the year, and if so, it’ll be against Edgar (17-4-1), who called for the bout following his lopsided victory over B.J. Penn in July.

Both Edgar and Swanson already carry a prior loss to Aldo, although Swanson’s dates back to the WEC days in 2009, while Edgar’s took place last year at UFC 156. Over the course of his streak, Swanson has beaten a litany of contenders, including a rousing decision over Dustin Poirier and knockouts of Ross Pearson and Dennis Siver. Prior to finishing Penn, Edgar snapped a three-fight title losing streak by outpointing Charles Oliveira in July 2013.

According to Helwani, Swanson initially suggested a return date in either November or December, which Edgar agreed to, however there have since been preliminary discussions of the fight taking place on October 4th in Sweden at UFC Fight Night 53. That event currently does not have a headliner.

In unrelated UFC Fight Night 53 news, as reported by Helwani on UFC Tonight, a bout between “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (13-4) and Akira Corassani (12-4, 1 NC) is being discussed as a potential fight for the Swedish event. Nothing is final yet, although if the match-up comes to fruition, it would mark Jung’s return to action after year-long layoff following his failed title bid against Aldo.

Additionally, Amir Sadollah (6-4), who is scheduled to fight Nico Musoke at UFC Fight Night 53, may soon have himself a new opponent. The former TUF 7 winner is in discussions to replace Kyle Noke against Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-5, 2 NC) at UFC Fight Night 52.

An undisclosed knee injury ultimately forced Noke to withdraw from the match-up against Akiyama, which, pending the finalization of a replacement opponent, takes place September 20th in Japan.

Cub Swanson may have to clear yet another hurdle before securing his elusive first UFC title shot.

After initially resisting a bout against former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, Swanson (21-5), the No. 2 ranked featherweight contender, is now open to the proposed match-up, MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani reported on UFC Tonight.

Swanson currently rides a six-fight win streak, second only to Dennis Bermudez among the division’s many contenders. Following his latest victory, a thrilling ‘Fight of the Night’ decision over Jeremy Stephens, the 30-year-old Swanson was all but promised a title shot against the winner of Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes. However, the postponement of Aldo vs. Mendes into late-October now means that Swanson may fight again before the end of the year, and if so, it’ll be against Edgar (17-4-1), who called for the bout following his lopsided victory over B.J. Penn in July.

Both Edgar and Swanson already carry a prior loss to Aldo, although Swanson’s dates back to the WEC days in 2009, while Edgar’s took place last year at UFC 156. Over the course of his streak, Swanson has beaten a litany of contenders, including a rousing decision over Dustin Poirier and knockouts of Ross Pearson and Dennis Siver. Prior to finishing Penn, Edgar snapped a three-fight title losing streak by outpointing Charles Oliveira in July 2013.

According to Helwani, Swanson initially suggested a return date in either November or December, which Edgar agreed to, however there have since been preliminary discussions of the fight taking place on October 4th in Sweden at UFC Fight Night 53. That event currently does not have a headliner.

In unrelated UFC Fight Night 53 news, as reported by Helwani on UFC Tonight, a bout between “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (13-4) and Akira Corassani (12-4, 1 NC) is being discussed as a potential fight for the Swedish event. Nothing is final yet, although if the match-up comes to fruition, it would mark Jung’s return to action after year-long layoff following his failed title bid against Aldo.

Additionally, Amir Sadollah (6-4), who is scheduled to fight Nico Musoke at UFC Fight Night 53, may soon have himself a new opponent. The former TUF 7 winner is in discussions to replace Kyle Noke against Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-5, 2 NC) at UFC Fight Night 52.

An undisclosed knee injury ultimately forced Noke to withdraw from the match-up against Akiyama, which, pending the finalization of a replacement opponent, takes place September 20th in Japan.