Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Longtime UFC featherweight veteran Cub Swanson will make his return to the Octagon when he battles former Bellator and PFL attraction Daniel Pineda at the upcoming UFC 256 pay-per-view (PPV) event, scheduled for Sat., Dec. 12, 2020 inside the promotion’s APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Swanson (26-11), who turned 37 earlier this month, has not competed since capturing a unanimous decision victory over Kron Gracie at the UFC Fight Night 161 event back in Oct. 2019. Shutting down the jiu-jitsu wizard snapped a four-fight losing streak for Swanson and it’s not unreasonable to suggest “Killer Cub” is in the twilight of his career.
As for the 35 year-old Pineda (27-13, 2 NC), he parted ways with PFL after a drug test fiasco left him with back-to-back “no contests” in last year’s playoffs. “The Pit” was promptly scooped up by UFC and made the most of it, stopping Brazilian bruiser Herbert Burns by way of second-round technical knockout at the UFC 252 event last August.
UFC 256 is expected to be headlined by bantamweight champion Petr Yan, who will make his first 135-pound title defense against top-ranked division contender Aljamain Sterling. Elsewhere on the card, Ronaldo Souza collides with middleweight veteran Marvin Vettori, while Angela Hill and Tecia Torres run it back in the strawweight division.
Expect more UFC 256 fight card announcements in the coming weeks.