UFC featherweight Shane Burgos expects to walk out of his fight against Cub Swanson — win or lose — with an extra $50,000 check.
Shane Burgos was surprised when he got the call to fight Cub Swanson.
Burgos, who meets Swanson on the UFC Ottawa main card on Saturday night, said he was “a little taken aback” when he found out his next opponent would be the veteran featherweight. “Hurricane” was expecting a top 10-15 opponent, he said, but perhaps not someone with the name value of Swanson.
“I really did not expect that at all,” Burgos told Bloody Elbow. “It’s pretty funny — I was like, ‘Woah, OK, yes, let’s do it.’ I definitely wasn’t expecting Cub’s name.”
Most recently, Burgos bounced back from his first pro loss with a submission of Kurt Holobaugh last November at UFC 230. The win moved his UFC record to 4-1 and earned himself a “huge opportunity” against Swanson — one that Burgos believes will earn him and Swanson “Fight of the Night” honors.
“If you look at my style and his style, it’s impossible for this not to be a good fight — a great fight,” Burgos said. “It’s literally impossible. I don’t think in any way, shape, or form this could be boring. We’re gonna steal the show.”
The more experienced Swanson has had 35 pro fights, and has won 25. “Killer Cub” has a slew of notable victories on his record, including wins over Dustin Poirier and Jeremy Stephens. And he only loses to the best of the best, such as Jose Aldo, Max Holloway, and Frankie Edgar.
This is the biggest fight of Burgos’ life. A win over Swanson would mean a lot to his rising career. Burgos, however, said he has to treat it like just another fight in order not to get overwhelmed by the big name Swanson carries.
“It doesn’t matter who I’m fighting,” Burgos said. “There’s another man in there trying to take me out, I’m trying to take him out. It doesn’t matter what his name is or what he’s done.
“At the end of the day, he’s just another man, he bleeds like I do. I think it’s my time. He’s had his time, he’s a legend, he’s done great things in the sport, but it’s my turn now.”