UFC 206 fight card: Cub Swanson vs Doo Ho Choi full fight preview

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight strikers Cub Swanson and Doo Ho Choi will face off this Saturday night (Dec. 10, 2016) at UFC 206 inside Air Canada Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

For a moment, Swanson appeared to be on the downward slide, losing two straight bouts in ugly fashion. He’s put a pair of wins together since, but Swanson will face off with a seriously tough opponent here. Choi is a very dangerous man. “Korean Superboy” has landed first round knockouts in each of his three UFC fights, earning this significant step up in competition.

Let’s take a look at the keys to victory for both men:

Cub Swanson
Record: 23-7
Key Wins: Jeremy Stephens (UFC Fight Night 44), Hacran Dias (UFC on FOX 19), Charles Oliveira (UFC 152)
Key Losses: Max Holloway (UFC on FOX 15), Frankie Edgar (UFC Fight Night 57). Ricardo Lamas (UFC on FOX 1)
Keys to Victory: Swanson is a savvy veteran with sharp kickboxing and sneaky submission skills. There’s a reason that Swanson has been around the upper level of 145 lbs. for so long, and this match up will likely show much longer he has left.

He’ll need all that experience to take out a prospect like “The Korean Superboy.”

One of the main things that Swanson has going for him here is that he’s also an excellent striker. Choi’s UFC opponents have either been brawlers or grapplers, impatiently racing into their style and running into his fist as a result. Luckily, Swanson is quite skilled from Choi’s range and doesn’t have to avoid it. Instead, Swanson can stay patient, rely on his movement and feints, and begin to read his opponent.

As the fight wears on, Swanson’s chances increase. At this point, Choi has only shown athleticism and a devastating right hand. That’s certainly a threat, but Swanson has been around long enough to diffuse that weapon and get his own offense going.

VS.

Doo Ho Choi
Record: 14-1
Key Wins: Thiago Tavares (TUF 23 Finale), Sam Sicilia (UFC Fight Night 79), Juan Puig (UFC Fight Night 57)
Key Losses: None
Keys to Victory: Choi is a terrifyingly powerful kickboxer. The South Korean has plenty of size for his division and a dynamic right hand, which has helped him score 12 knockouts. A majority of them came in the very first round.

So far, Choi’s ability to react to aggressive sluggers has proven to be excellent. In his last bout, Choi’s takedown defense and scrambling skills were really tested for the first time, and again, he passed with flying colors.

Swanson is a much different opponent.

In this bout, Choi’s ability to knockout a fellow top striker will be challenged. Swanson will not make himself easy to hit, and Choi doesn’t have a ton of experience in fights that drag on past the opening frame. With that in mind, Choi needs to remain patient while focused on his game plan. If he works a consistent strategy of cutting off the cage and finding a home for his cross, his chances of success are pretty good regardless of whether he finds the finish. However, if Choi becomes frustrated or drawn out of his comfort zone, he’s going to have a very difficult time with the Swanson.

Bottom Line: It’s a really fun match up of veteran and prospect.

Swanson is not exactly in the immediate title picture right now, but his last two wins are definitely worth something. If he’s able to halt the hype train of Choi, that would be a third quality victory in a row. He won’t receive a title eliminator match or anything so dramatic, but he’ll be a relevant player once again.

On the other hand, a loss is really a sign that Swanson is no longer a top Featherweight. His two recent losses come to the absolute best, but Choi is far less proven. For Choi, this is the most high-profile and toughest fight of his career. Swanson has seen it all, and Choi has to find a way to win. It’s not a make-or-break moment, but it will determine whether Choi is ready for elite Featherweights at this point in his career.

With a win, Choi can keep climbing towards a title shot, and he’s not all that far off. However, a loss sets him back considerably, as he’ll have to compete with the other rising Featherweights looking to earn a big opportunity in a talent-rich division.

At UFC 206, Cub Swanson and Doo Ho Choi will throw down. Which fighter will have his hand raised?

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight strikers Cub Swanson and Doo Ho Choi will face off this Saturday night (Dec. 10, 2016) at UFC 206 inside Air Canada Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

For a moment, Swanson appeared to be on the downward slide, losing two straight bouts in ugly fashion. He’s put a pair of wins together since, but Swanson will face off with a seriously tough opponent here. Choi is a very dangerous man. “Korean Superboy” has landed first round knockouts in each of his three UFC fights, earning this significant step up in competition.

Let’s take a look at the keys to victory for both men:

Cub Swanson
Record: 23-7
Key Wins: Jeremy Stephens (UFC Fight Night 44), Hacran Dias (UFC on FOX 19), Charles Oliveira (UFC 152)
Key Losses: Max Holloway (UFC on FOX 15), Frankie Edgar (UFC Fight Night 57). Ricardo Lamas (UFC on FOX 1)
Keys to Victory: Swanson is a savvy veteran with sharp kickboxing and sneaky submission skills. There’s a reason that Swanson has been around the upper level of 145 lbs. for so long, and this match up will likely show much longer he has left.

He’ll need all that experience to take out a prospect like “The Korean Superboy.”

One of the main things that Swanson has going for him here is that he’s also an excellent striker. Choi’s UFC opponents have either been brawlers or grapplers, impatiently racing into their style and running into his fist as a result. Luckily, Swanson is quite skilled from Choi’s range and doesn’t have to avoid it. Instead, Swanson can stay patient, rely on his movement and feints, and begin to read his opponent.

As the fight wears on, Swanson’s chances increase. At this point, Choi has only shown athleticism and a devastating right hand. That’s certainly a threat, but Swanson has been around long enough to diffuse that weapon and get his own offense going.

VS.

Doo Ho Choi
Record: 14-1
Key Wins: Thiago Tavares (TUF 23 Finale), Sam Sicilia (UFC Fight Night 79), Juan Puig (UFC Fight Night 57)
Key Losses: None
Keys to Victory: Choi is a terrifyingly powerful kickboxer. The South Korean has plenty of size for his division and a dynamic right hand, which has helped him score 12 knockouts. A majority of them came in the very first round.

So far, Choi’s ability to react to aggressive sluggers has proven to be excellent. In his last bout, Choi’s takedown defense and scrambling skills were really tested for the first time, and again, he passed with flying colors.

Swanson is a much different opponent.

In this bout, Choi’s ability to knockout a fellow top striker will be challenged. Swanson will not make himself easy to hit, and Choi doesn’t have a ton of experience in fights that drag on past the opening frame. With that in mind, Choi needs to remain patient while focused on his game plan. If he works a consistent strategy of cutting off the cage and finding a home for his cross, his chances of success are pretty good regardless of whether he finds the finish. However, if Choi becomes frustrated or drawn out of his comfort zone, he’s going to have a very difficult time with the Swanson.

Bottom Line: It’s a really fun match up of veteran and prospect.

Swanson is not exactly in the immediate title picture right now, but his last two wins are definitely worth something. If he’s able to halt the hype train of Choi, that would be a third quality victory in a row. He won’t receive a title eliminator match or anything so dramatic, but he’ll be a relevant player once again.

On the other hand, a loss is really a sign that Swanson is no longer a top Featherweight. His two recent losses come to the absolute best, but Choi is far less proven. For Choi, this is the most high-profile and toughest fight of his career. Swanson has seen it all, and Choi has to find a way to win. It’s not a make-or-break moment, but it will determine whether Choi is ready for elite Featherweights at this point in his career.

With a win, Choi can keep climbing towards a title shot, and he’s not all that far off. However, a loss sets him back considerably, as he’ll have to compete with the other rising Featherweights looking to earn a big opportunity in a talent-rich division.

At UFC 206, Cub Swanson and Doo Ho Choi will throw down. Which fighter will have his hand raised?