(“Hey Mike, do you ever think that we could all just be, like, figments of some retarded kid’s imagination?” *Pwaaaaahhh* Photo via Getty.)
It seems that former WEC bantamweight kingpin Miguel Torres is the latest fighter to strap on his goofy boots, eat the Devil’s lettuce and store it in his Prince Albert in the left-handed can. Those are euphemisms for marijuana, which the UFC and WSOF veteran didn’t test positive for during a pre or post-fight exam but rather was allegedly caught with in his home state of Indiana over the weekend. Sherdog reports:
Former World Extreme Cagefighting bantamweight champion and UFC veteran Miguel Torreswas arrested in his home state of Indiana this past weekend for alleged possession of marijuana.
Torres’ mugshot was recently posted on the Facebook page of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department as part of the Marshall County Jail bookings from Aug. 24 to Aug. 25. Torres’ exact time of arrest was not revealed in the report. However, it was indicated that the fighter posted a $1,500 bond.
The thirty two year-old is perhaps the most accomplished bantamweight in MMA history but has unfortunately lost three out of his last four bouts. After the UFC absorbed the WEC, Torres fought in the organization, compiling a record of 2-2 before being released in 2012. Torres’ last fight was a November 2012 decision loss to Marlon Moraes in the World Series of Fighting’s first event.
We’ll keep you posted on updates in this case.
(“Hey Mike, do you ever think that we could all just be, like, figments of some retarded kid’s imagination?” *Pwaaaaahhh* Photo via Getty.)
It seems that former WEC bantamweight kingpin Miguel Torres is the latest fighter to strap on his goofy boots, eat the Devil’s lettuce and store it in his Prince Albert in the left-handed can. Those are euphemisms for marijuana, which the UFC and WSOF veteran didn’t test positive for during a pre or post-fight exam but rather was allegedly caught with in his home state of Indiana over the weekend. Sherdog reports:
Former World Extreme Cagefighting bantamweight champion and UFC veteran Miguel Torreswas arrested in his home state of Indiana this past weekend for alleged possession of marijuana.
Torres’ mugshot was recently posted on the Facebook page of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department as part of the Marshall County Jail bookings from Aug. 24 to Aug. 25. Torres’ exact time of arrest was not revealed in the report. However, it was indicated that the fighter posted a $1,500 bond.
The thirty two year-old is perhaps the most accomplished bantamweight in MMA history but has unfortunately lost three out of his last four bouts. After the UFC absorbed the WEC, Torres fought in the organization, compiling a record of 2-2 before being released in 2012. Torres’ last fight was a November 2012 decision loss to Marlon Moraes in the World Series of Fighting’s first event.
Reaching a position where the word “champion” is placed before your name is no easy task under the UFC banner. The feat becomes all the more impressive when such a label is obtained in the dog-eat-dog world of the 155-pound weight class, where over the…
Reaching a position where the word “champion” is placed before your name is no easy task under the UFC banner. The feat becomes all the more impressive when such a label is obtained in the dog-eat-dog world of the 155-pound weight class, where over the past two years, the division has become jam-packed with championship-caliber contenders.
For UFC lightweight titleholder Benson Henderson, it is a position he has zero intentions of giving up any time soon. But despite having held the divisional strap since February, the buzz surrounding Henderson’s remains moderate.
This is due, in large part, to the manner in which he claimed the crown from former champion Frankie Edgar. Over the course of 10 hard-fought rounds, and two close decision victories (one unanimous, one split) Henderson edged out the scrappy, Toms River native to earn and then defend the UFC lightweight title. The end result left “Smooth” claiming top status in the ultra-competitive division, but the feeling of a title reign in process, is seemingly yet to kick in.
While no one disagrees that Henderson has earned his place in the upper echelon of the lightweight division, the way his pair of fights with former champion Frankie Edgar played out, has lead many to wonder if the champion is truly the top fighter in the deep and talented 155-pound ranks.
The 29-year old MMA Lab product will have the perfect opportunity to silence the critics, and establish a dominant reign over the division when he steps into the Octagon against number one contender Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox 5 in Seattle, WA.
Being able to move past the questions is certainly added motivation, but Henderson is not the first lightweight champion to be doubted in the court of public opinion. In fact, to have the MMA world question the legitimacy of your championship, is something the previous belt holder knew all too well.
The Frankie Edgar Effect
Before the days of immediate rematches and underdog champions, the lightweight division was ruled by B.J. Penn. A former welterweight champion turned 155-pound wrecking machine, “The Prodigy” logged the most dominant chapter of his storied career, reigning atop the lightweight division.
After putting a sound thrashing on Diego Sanchez at UFC 107, the list of proven contenders ran thin. For the next challenge, the UFC tapped rising prospect Frankie Edgar for a showdown with Penn at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi. It was a matchup the champion was heavily favored to win, but Edgar executed a near-perfect game plan en route to the upset.
Immediately following the victory over Penn, the biggest moment of Edgar’s career came under fire as portions of the MMA world cried foul.
The noise generated was enough for the UFC to book an immediate rematch and give Penn an opportunity to regain the lightweight title at UFC 118. But rather than Boston being the former two-divisional champion’s night for redemption, it became “The Answers” moment for validation.
Edgar left zero doubt, hanging in the balance, as he routed Penn for five rounds to earn the unanimous decision victory.
Unfortunately for Edgar, this trend would repeat over his next two trips into the Octagon. After a five-round war with Gray Maynard, which resulted in a majority draw at UFC 125, Edgar’s title reign once again came under question.
But after closing the book on their trilogy in decisive fashion at UFC 136, Edgar finally appeared ready to move forward into the next phase of his title reign.
That progress would ultimately be halted by Henderson at UFC 144 in Japan, in a bout where Edgar’s championship fate would be decided on the judge’s cards. It was a great victory for Henderson but the immediate rematch granted to the New Jersey native, cast a shadow on the beginning of his title run, similar to what Edgar experienced following his win in Abu Dhabi.
The situation would only amplify after Henderson’s split-decision victory over Edgar at UFC 150 in Denver. It was a fight where a dominant Henderson performance could have pushed the doubters aside. Instead, a controversial decision echoed through the MMA fanbase, slowing Henderson’s transition into his new role as the man to beat in the lightweight division.
The Road Ahead
There is absolutely zero reason to believe any of the doubt or criticism has affected Henderson in a negative fashion. Since his days as a WEC champion, the Colorado native has consistently operated with both class and confidence as he’s steamrolled his way from the “little blue cage” to the top of the UFC lightweight division.
Henderson’s road to the title came against difficult opposition, and hard-fought victories over the likes of Mark Bocek, Jim Miller, Clay Guida and Frankie Edgar have made for an impressive resume. That being said, the stigma still lingers, and his upcoming bout with Diaz is the perfect opportunity to put a signature stamp on his title run.
The Stockton native is a unique obstacle, but should Henderson emerge with gold intact, the critics chipping at the legitimacy of his title will fall by the wayside. Diaz will be riding the momentum of three impressive performances into the Octagon when the two men throw down in Seattle and a Henderson victory will make a huge statement.
In less than two weeks that moment will come front and center. Henderson will have the opportunity to prove, beyond all doubt, the lightweight title is his for the keeping.
A victory over Diaz will make room for the next contender to emerge, but with his ambition set to challenge Anderson Silva‘s record number of title defenses; Henderson will be looking to keep things moving down the road.
The lives of professional fighters are filled with uncertainty; their successes and failures play out in the public eye for all to see. When the cage door closes and the battle of wills begin, it becomes a matter of opportunity. One walks away victorio…
The lives of professional fighters are filled with uncertainty; their successes and failures play out in the public eye for all to see.
When the cage door closes and the battle of wills begin, it becomes a matter of opportunity. One walks away victorious, the other defeated, the outcome sometimes determined by only the slightest of margins.
What happens under the bright lights is what the fans are left to debate, but rarely are they given a glimpse into what it takes to make the walk to the cage in the first place.
This is what the climb looks like. This is The Fighting Life.
There is a stark contrast between the golden shores of Palm Springs, Calif., and the rust-colored, sun-scorched Earth of Albuquerque, N.M. In “SoCal” the chilled, laid-back vibe rolls like the waves spilling onto the beach, while New Mexico’s jagged presentation evokes thoughts of survival. It is a place where luxury is seemingly nonexistent, and the fighters who train there prefer it that way.
While UFC featherweight Cub Swanson calls both places home, they represent two different aspects of the man himself. Most people would struggle to find a balance, but if there is one thing Swanson has come to grasp, it is how to find comfort in the chaos.
He knows what it feels like to be written off and pushed aside. It wasn’t all too long ago that Swanson was considered one of the WEC’s top featherweights as he found victory in three out of his initial four outings. The momentum earned him a spot in a title-eliminator bout against rising star Jose Aldo. But after an early mistake and a lightning-flash display of skill, Swanson suddenly found himself pushed to the back of the featherweight division.
Over the next year and a half, Swanson would bounce back to earn victories in two of his next three bouts. He had what it took to get the job done against John Franchi and Mackens Semerzier, but the killer instinct which had propelled his career up to that point appeared to have down-shifted.
Swanson knew the will to fight was still very much intact but was unable to pinpoint exactly what was missing.
Shortly after his Fight of the Night-earning performance against Semerzier, the little blue cage of the WEC completed its merger with the UFC. As the longest-standing member of the featherweight division, Swanson was hoping to start his Octagon career off with a bang against rising prospect Erik Koch.
But after Swanson suffered a series of injuries, his bout with the Duke Roufus-trained fighter went to the scrap heap, and he was forced to look within himself to find answers to the questions that were lingering.
Swanson would be on the shelf for just over a year, but in that time he found the keys to unlock the riddles which were plaguing him. While his return against Ricardo Lamas didn’t yield the results he was seeking, Swanson knew he had found balance in his life and was eager to prove himself.
Over the course of his next three bouts, he did exactly that.
In impressive fashion he scored stoppage victories over George Roop, Ross Pearson and Charles Oliveira. Suddenly Swanson’s name was once again in the mix for title contention at 145 pounds.
“I credit the change to a combination of things,” Swanson said. “Having that bad injury was almost life or death to me career wise. It completely changed my perspective, and now I attack every fight like it may be my last. I know I’m not indestructible, and I know at any point this could all end for me. This is such a once-in-a-lifetime thing. It is something so many people would love to do, and I make sure I enjoy it.
“I’ve learned how to relax during the training portion and not being so high strung. I’ve learned how to save it for the fight. I tossed around the idea of seeing a sports psychologist for years, but I feel as though I’m very intelligent and it was something I could figure out on my own. I believe I’ve been successful in that aspect. Now I run through a lot of mental drills before I fight, and I feel it has made a big difference.
“A year ago I was laying in bed out of commission. I have a lot of belief in myself, stuck with it, and it feels good. I knew I could do it, and that is a very gratifying feeling.”
On the heels of a three-fight winning streak, Swanson’s confidence is at an all-time high. All of the hard work he has invested over the years is paying off as he comes into his own as a mixed martial artist.
However, whereas now he is a man with unwavering belief in the talents he possesses, this was not always the case. For the longest time, Swanson did not feel at home inside of the cage, and it has been a repeated theme throughout his entire life.
“It’s been a long journey,” Swanson said. “I really have lived on both sides of the tracks. I grew up as a kid in church and very sheltered. I was home schooled most of my life and only ever hung around with other church kids. Then things changed in my life, and I bounced around a little bit. When I got to high school, in the public-school setting, I just didn’t quite know how to fit in, and that became a fear of mine.
“I began to run with the tough crowd, and that got me into a lot of trouble. I was really afraid of not being able to fit in with anybody because I was weird. I’ll admit right now I’m still weird, but back then I was afraid people wouldn’t like me, so I wanted to be tough and ran with the tough crowd. I’m the type of person where if I’m going to run with the tough crowd, then I’m going to be the toughest. That got me into lots of trouble.”
The change of environment turned Swanson’s world upside down. The once-quiet “church kid” was now having frequent brushes with law enforcement and would eventually find himself residing in juvenile hall. After experiencing the early stages of the correctional system, Swanson came to the realization that without a change in direction, the road he was traveling came with a one-way ticket to the penitentiary.
Once it became clear that the ability to alter the course rested directly on his own shoulders, Swanson set about finding his way out. His ability to scrap had been proven, but Swanson wanted to test himself inside the fire of professional combat.
At just 20 years old, he dove in head first.
“I got into fighting professionally because I missed competition and I needed something to work towards,” Swanson explained. “Lots of people get into trouble because they are just bored at that age, and I was no different. I had nothing to do but get into trouble and finally saw that wasn’t the way to go. I had already ended up in juvenile hall, and I knew eventually I was going to wind up in jail.
“I began to focus my time on martial arts, and I stumbled onto jiu-jitsu. From there I was invited to a king-of-the-cage event. I saw my first cage fight, and it blew my mind. I knew athletically I could do it, but I was scared to death. I still didn’t like to fight. I avoided a lot of fights because people thought I could fight. I didn’t have to fight a lot because of that.
“Getting in the cage and facing my fear against a professional fighter was just about the craziest thing I could think of. I knew I wanted to do it and went after it. That aspect has completely changed for me now. Every fight I ever had all the way up to my final WEC fight against Mackens, it always seemed like a dream. People talk about fighting in their dreams, being slow and not doing too well—that was how it felt.
“I came back from all my injuries; stepped in the cage against Lamas; and ever since then, I feel like I’m mentally there. I’m in complete control, and I’m not worried like I used to be. I get nerves, but they are not the same. I feel like it’s my cage and my opponent doesn’t belong there.”
The results certainly speak for themselves, as Swanson has been a nightmare in the featherweight division in 2012.
Not only has he defeated the opposition, but he’s also made it appears as though his opponents have no business fighting him to begin with. Working behind elusive footwork and pin-point power strikes, Swanson’s killer instinct has returned as he’s folded three consecutive opponents.
In his most recent victory, over Oliveira at UFC 152, Swanson knew his game plan was perfect. In the past, his aggressive nature had a tendency to throw things off, but that was the Swanson of old. Now he goes into fights with complete trust in his preparation and has discovered patience to be a critical aspect of his success.
“I felt great going into the fight with Oliveira,” Swanson said. “I was very confident in my game plan and just trusting my ability. I was probably the most on point I’ve ever been backstage, but when I went out there, I felt like I needed to adjust. He’s an awkward fighter but it only took me a second to find it.
“Windows of opportunity don’t always show right away, and my coaches are always telling me to be patient. They tell me I’m going to get it and not to rush it. I know if I land my clean shot, I can put my opponent down. For Oliveira in particular, I threw some heat early on. I didn’t even throw it to land, but I wanted to get the reaction from him I had seen on the tapes I had studied.
“As soon as I got that reaction out of him that I wanted, I started attacking his body. I knew once I started in on his body he would leave his face open. When I hit him, I knew he was going to feel it. He is a taller, slender guy, and in the beginning of the fight, I didn’t care where I landed. I just wanted him to feel my presence and what I brought to the table—especially with him dropping from 155 to 145 pounds, because I’m sure they were thinking the guys at featherweight aren’t going to hit as hard. I wanted to mentally freak him out a little bit. It all played out how I wanted it to.”
With the calendar taking it’s final turn toward the end of the year, Swanson is proud of what he has accomplished in 2012. By putting on exciting performances and earning victories impressively, a future title shot has once again appeared on the horizon.
But even with the momentum he has gained, Swanson is fully aware there are other fighters higher on the divisional ladder.
That being said, he is fully prepared to unseat anyone in his way a long-awaited shot at championship gold.
“With the way the UFC is, when you win and win big, it catapults you,” Swanson said. “The problem is I’m still behind a couple of people. I can see why that is the case, but I feel like I’m right there. I believe I’m in the title picture, but because of my loss to Lamas and Koch’s injury forcing him out of his title shot, I feel I’m behind those two guys.
“I definitely don’t believe the Korean Zombie [Chan Sung Jung] should be ahead of me. He may be right there, and if he comes off the injured list, that fight makes a lot of sense. Those are the fights I’m looking for. Those names I mentioned are all exciting fights for me. There are also guys like Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo. Those are the guys you get excited to train for.
“I’m very happy with my performances this year. The only thing I get pissed off about is when I come into fights as the underdog. For this last fight, I heard I was, but I also heard I wasn’t. The two fights before, against Roop and Pearson, I definitely know I was. It kind of annoys me that people think these guys are going to whoop me. I smile, train hard and win. Then people say the guys I beat were never that good to begin with. It feels like I’m being discredited for getting solid wins. I just want the credibility I feel I deserve and to get big fights.
“I’m ready for anything. If they offered me a title shot, I would be more than willing, but I hope I’m not more than one fight away from getting one. I’m excited for whoever they put in front of me, but I want the big fights. I want somebody who is going to put on an exciting fight with me, and I want it to be a big draw.”
As he waits for the UFC to call with his next challenge, Swanson will focus on continuing his progression.
While his team of coaches works to sharpen his skills and push him to become a better fighter, his growth outside of the cage is fueled by his willingness to give back to others who are traveling down the same roads he mistakenly navigated in his past.
In between his training, Swanson makes time to revisit the same juvenile hall where he spent time as a wayward youth. It has become a passion in his life. In the process of helping to provide a role model, Swanson is bringing the chaotic days of his childhood full circle and further strengthening the determination of the man he has become.
“When I go back to work with the kids in juvenile hall, it’s great,” Swanson said. “I talk to them and explain to them that I was right where they are standing. I was literally in the same uniform they are wearing. To me it is a moral obligation, I feel, to give back to those kids, because I’m not some random person telling them they can make it out of there. I used to be there, and I believe I can be a good example for them.
“The big thing is I get their respect. In a lot of situations, the kids don’t respect their teachers in general. Coming in as a UFC fighter, it immediately gets their attention. Doing what I do and coming from where I come from, I felt kids would respect me more than the average person. When I begin to tell them about the mistakes I’ve made, it starts to become something they can relate to. I don’t know if I’ve made a difference yet, but I hope I have in some way.
“It is something I cherish above other things because those kids are in need and most of them are just misguided. That’s how I was. I wasn’t a bad kid. I was just an idiot at the time. I’ve turned my life around, and I’m one of the calmest, mellowest guys out there. I get it all out in the cage, and the rest of the time I’m all smiles. I hang out with my chick and eat cookies if I’m not in training. I have no ill will. I get it all out inside the cage.”
For Swanson, spending his time looking backwards is not an option. He locks his focus on the here and now with only the things he can control receiving his attention. As a veteran of the sport, he understands the importance of what makes a fighter’s stock rise and fall and has no intention of back-sliding.
But a lengthy career in MMA has allowed the 28-year-old to experience the sport from all sides. Swanson wholeheartedly believes his greatest achievements are yet to come and accepts the missteps of the past as the stepping stones to a bright future.
“I feel I’ve just now opened the door into my prime,” Swanson said. “I’m open minded and I have great coaches around me. I have five striking coaches that I work with. I have all these coaches to learn from. They are all awesome, and Greg Jackson is very open minded and teaches me to be that way as well.
“I’ve put in my hard work. I’ve done everything I’ve said I was going to do from the get-go. Winning and losing is on me. I’m going to take that home, but at the end of the day, I want the fans to see a good fight. That’s what I do, and that is what I’m here for. I just want the fans to appreciate that, and when people want to watch my fights, it makes me happy.
“I believe you shouldn’t have regrets. I think things happen for a reason, and I feel like everything good or bad that has happened in my life has made me who I am right now. I accept the things in my life, and I’m happy with who I am today. I’m trying to be better everyday. I’m going to keep growing in my life. I’m going to keep evolving and keep working to become the best possible version of the person I am.”
Every fighter dreams of that moment where their hand is raised and UFC President Dana White straps the championship belt around their waist.It is the pinnacle of years of hard work and sacrifice, as their accomplishments are laid out on the sport’s big…
Every fighter dreams of that moment where their hand is raised and UFC President Dana White straps the championship belt around their waist.
It is the pinnacle of years of hard work and sacrifice, as their accomplishments are laid out on the sport’s biggest stage for the world to see. It is the juncture where a career spent earning every inch of ground finally meets the greatest expectations they’ve always imagined they could achieve.
Becoming a champion in the UFC is the ultimate validation for a professional mixed martial artist. After expending countless hours breaking down their bodies in the hope of rebuilding a more capable version of themselves, a fighter will do whatever it takes to claim the sport’s greatest prize.
In that fraction of time where their hand is raised in victory and the mission is complete, it would be hard to imagine a more rewarding achievement.
While this scenario has played through Joseph Benavidez‘s mind like a highlight set on repeat, 12 pounds of gold is not the only treasure at the end of this journey. Perhaps even more important than fulfilling his dream of becoming a UFC champion is the opportunity to become the first man to hold the flyweight title in the organization’s history.
At the sport’s highest level, champions come and go, but stepping into the Octagon and forging a piece of history will endure.
He will have the unique opportunity to claim everything he has been chasing when he squares off with Demetrius Johnson in the main event of UFC 152 in Toronto. The two men will battle to decide who will become the inaugural flyweight champion, and Benavidez is prepared to give everything he has to make this dream become a reality.
“I’m fighting for the first ever flyweight title and that’s huge,” Benavidez told Bleacher Report in an exclusive interview.
“People become champions in this sport all the time but becoming the first person to ever hold the title is an accomplishment that goes down in history.To compete in the UFC is an incredible honor. To become a UFC champion is a dream come true. But I get to be the first guy to ever win this title. This will only happen once and I get to be the man to do it.
“To become a champion has always been my goal. It is the reason I train so hard. I believe I work hard enough and I’m definitely willing to do the things no one else will do. That is what it takes to become a champion. I came close to getting the title in my fight with Dominick Cruz and this is another opportunity to make my dream come true. I’ve obviously improved since my last title shot and this is a better weight for me to compete at.”
When the UFC announced the creation of the flyweight division and the names of the four men competing in the tournament, Benavidez was touted as an early favorite to earn the crown.
While Johnson drew Ian McCall in the opening round, Benavidez squared off with Yasuhiro Urushitani at UFC on FX 2 in Sydney Australia.
After dominating the opening round of the bout, Benavidez showed off his power by dropping Urushitani in the second round. Once he had the Japanese fighter in trouble, Benavidez’s killer instinct took over and he pounded out the stoppage victory.
It was an impressive 125-pound debut for the Team Alpha Male fighter.
When Johnson defeated McCall the flyweight title bout appeared to be set. But after an error on the judge’s score cards resulted in the fight being declared a draw, Benavidez was pushed to the sidelines.
Johnson and McCall would rematch several months later, and Benavidez had to bide his time until a clear cut contender emerged.
Following another battle that went the distance, Johnson would claim victory. Now Benavidez has his sights set on “Mighty Mouse.” While the wait hasn’t always been the easiest, he found ways to keep the situation in a positive space at all times.
“Waiting for this fight to come around has definitely been difficult but situations like this happen all the time in this sport,” Benavidez said. “It is really all about making the situation positive rather than a negative. I could’ve looked at it as I had all the time in the world to take a break, not train and let my foot off the gas, but that’s not what I did. I saw the opportunity to use the extra time to get that much better and I made the most of it.
“It’s actually really nice when you are training without a fight set. When you have a fight coming up it is a steady grind and you are concentrating on one person. You are really getting into shape and preparing for what they are going to bring to the table. While I was waiting to see who I would be facing for the title it allowed me to work on a wider scope of things I normally wouldn’t do had I been in camp for a specific fight.
“I switched it up with trainers and got different looks. I’ve been working with a boxing coach Jimmy Gifford in Las Vegas and those types of things really help. I also spent time assisting on The Ultimate Fighter and that gave me eight new bodies to train with as well. I was able to do a lot of things I couldn’t do had I been in the regular grind of a fight camp and I definitely feel I’ve improved every aspect of my fight game.
“Every time I thought about having to wait for this fight all I had to do was remind myself I’m waiting to become the first ever flyweight champion in UFC history. When you have to wait it definitely makes it easier when you know the UFC title is what you are waiting for.”
Benavidez and Johnson are easily two of the most dynamic fighters in the sport. Both have solid wrestling skills and speed which can be matched by few. Despite their stature, both had successful runs in the bantamweight division and it promises to be an exciting fight when they throw down in Toronto at UFC 152.
“It’s an incredible matchup,” Benavidez said. “D.J. is someone I have so much respect for as both a person and a fighter. I’ve always been impressed with him. He’s one of those guys who was always fighting larger opponents and I’ve always been impressed. He’s one of the most fluid and fastest fighters in the UFC. He’s always fun to watch and I think I’m the same way. It’s definitely going to be an exciting fight.
“Every single fight in the 125 pound weight class has been amazing so far. They are fast-paced, highly entertaining, and now we have the two best guys going at it with everything on the line. History is on the line here. It doesn’t matter where you put Demetrius and I. They could put us in a backyard or in sparring and it would be an amazing show. But putting us under the spotlight to settle who will become the first flyweight champion is going to be a battle for the ages.”
While Benavidez cannot predict the future, he’s confident every ounce of sweat he’s invested in his career has led to this moment. It has been a roller coaster ride, one that has taken him from the desolate backdrop of Las Cruces New Mexico to the bright lights of the sport’s biggest stage.
He is a firm believer that you truly get out what you put in and in his heart, Benavidez knows he’s paid his dues. All of the sacrifice and hardship have brought him to this point. He knows what it feels like to pick yourself up — to push that much harder. While he can’t fully grasp what the moment will feel like, he’s prepared and determined to accomplish his dream of becoming a champion.
“It feels as if I have new life in my career,” Benavidez said. “It’s something I’ve been waiting for and I’ve always known this weight would suit me best. Now I have the opportunity to make my name as one of the best fighters ever.
“Just thinking about becoming a champion instantly cheers me. I can almost picture it happening but I could never imagine what it will actually feel like. I get that feeling of what it could be like and all the possibilities and the future. I’m starting to see things come together and with everything I’ve been through in my life, all the hard work is leading to this moment. This is what it has all been for. It’s going to be the most amazing moment of my life when it actually happens.”
Cub Swanson is hitting his stride as a professional mixed martial artist. After years spent attempting to live up to his potential, the proud Southern Californian is finally firing on all cylinders. In his past two outings, Swanson has taken his game t…
Cub Swanson is hitting his stride as a professional mixed martial artist.
After years spent attempting to live up to his potential, the proud Southern Californian is finally firing on all cylinders. In his past two outings, Swanson has taken his game to the next level as he has scored TKO victories over George Roop and former TUF winner Ross Pearson.
Two outstanding performances where Swanson’s showed off elusive footwork, pinpoint accuracy and put away power have opened eyes as he attempts to climb the ladder into the divisional upper tier. He has always had the talent, but skill alone doesn’t produce a champion, and this is a fact Swanson is painfully aware of.
In order to reach the top of the sport, it takes an intangible called confidence, and when a fighter’s belief in his abilities equal his comfort level in the heat of live competition, it is a beautiful thing to watch.
“My confidence is great right now,” Swanson told Bleacher Report in an exclusive interview. “I’m coming off a big win and it is important because I haven’t been able to put together any type of win streak in awhile. I’ve had some rough times in this sport but I’ve made it through them and I’m still here.
“I’m still improving and it feels good. I’ve always trained hard and I’ve never slacked. After everything I’ve been through I’m starting to feel like all the work I’ve put into this is starting to pay off. Just knowing that makes me happy. I’m in a good place and I’m happy to be fighting for the UFC.”
Swanson faced a difficult task when he stepped into the Octagon against Pearson in Atlantic City. The heavy-handed Brit had looked impressive in his featherweight debut against Junior Assuncao and was garnering early talk for possible title contention. There was the feeling Swanson was to be a solid test on his way up the ladder, but the Palm Springs native had other plans as he finished Pearson with a flurry in the second round.
“I was happy with my performance against Pearson,” Swanson said. “I think I did very well but I’ve watched the video a ton of times and there are things I didn’t like. That’s just me though. I’m very critical of myself. But I executed the overall game plan nicely and I was accurate. What we saw going into the fight worked exactly as we had planned.
“It was tough for this camp because I started heavy and when I was trying to catch my flow I felt a little sluggish on my feet. But it was due to the extra weight and I knew after weigh-ins I couldn’t allow myself to regain too much weight because it was a critical issue. I knew if I was cautious of my weight going into the fight I would be able to be light on my feet and that was a huge factor.
“Getting off first and beating him to the punch was going to be key and that is how it played out.”
Swanson is a proud member of Team Jackson/Winkeljohn, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The camp is heralded as one of the most successful in the sport. While he was riding high after his hard earned victory over Pearson, the backlash Coach Jackson received following the performance of Clay Guida, certainly got under his skin.
“I think the criticism Coach Greg Jackson gets is ridiculous and it makes me angry,” Swanson said. “He’s my coach and I think it’s unnecessary. When we fight and do well nobody has anything to say. But when one of us doesn’t have a great performance then it is our coaches fault. I think it’s stupid and it’s not fair. He’s never once told me to take it easy, relax or pace myself. He wants you to finish the fight and to get out there and give it all you have.
“Obviously he wants you to fight smart but he wants you to be looking to finish. For him to be criticized about that stuff is a bunch of bull. It’s just haters man. So many people have so many nice things to say about him that people get annoyed by that and start looking for anything they can find to be negative.”
While Swanson’s striking was certainly the highlight of his bouts with Roop and Pearson, it may be his improved footwork that is the unsung hero. He has always been an extremely active fighter, but the power he has been able to generate in his most recent outings have made the difference.
“Footwork isn’t something you hear people talk about too much but it’s something as fighters we have to be able to utilize,” Swanson said. “We have to learn our body types and what style of fighting suits us. I’m fast and I move well so I know how to come in at weird angles and keep my feet under me. I’m looking for that power shot and I might not be able to fire off anything after it if my feet aren’t under me. Footwork is a huge part of my game.
“I do a lot of hurdles and ladders in training. I mix those in with a bunch of crazy agility drills to make sure my footwork is where I want it to be. I’m always working on balance and I have to give it up to my two strength and conditioning coaches for always pushing me. I have a coach in California and one in New Mexico, they both have different variations in their drilling and between the two places it has been awesome.”
His recent success has Cub Swanson feeling like the fighter he always knew he could be. Despite the roller coaster ride which comes with wins and losses in this sport, he knows those challenges have only served to make him a better competitor. They will also prepare him for the tough challenges which lie ahead.
If he is going to make a run at the featherweight title, he will most likely have to face a few familiar faces along the way.
“I definitely see myself in that top five mix but I’m in a weird situation now,” Swanson said. “I have a couple of people ahead of me and a few of them are injured. I’m just sitting behind them waiting to fight. The way I won my last two fights has pushed me up there and I’m excited about it.
“I’d like a title shot soon and I’d be very grateful but I’m really just having fun out there right now. I’m trying to make a name for myself and get the fans to know who I am. I’m not the most popular fighter but I’ve always tried to be exciting and put on good shows. That’s what I’m really focused on and if the opportunity comes for a title shot I will gladly take it. I’m not afraid of Jose Aldo.
“Chad Mendes and Ricardo Lamas are both fights I’d like to get back. But it all depends on how the UFC is with rematches. In the past they haven’t been too big on rematches unless they really need to be done and I don’t know how this is going to play out. It’s not my call but I’d definitely take them.
“I’m just happy to be here to be honest. I’ve been here a long time. I think I’m the original 145-pound fighter still in the division and I’ve definitely been here the longest. I’ve been around and I’m happy that I’m still around. I’m really getting to my full potential right now and feel like this is my time.”
Amidst the story of yet another Ultimate Fighter coaches bout having a replacement fighter and then moving from the co-main event to the main event after Aldo’s injury, the competitiveness of this bout was lost.To many casual fans, it’s a no-brainer th…
Amidst the story of yet another Ultimate Fighter coaches bout having a replacement fighter and then moving from the co-main event to the main event after Aldo’s injury, the competitiveness of this bout was lost.
To many casual fans, it’s a no-brainer that Faber is going to win and set up a title unification bout with Cruz. However many people are overlooking the skill set that Barao brings to this fight.
In this slideshow I’m going to break down the fight based on several key areas:
Reaching a position where the word “champion” is placed before your name is no easy task under the UFC banner. The feat becomes all the more impressive when such a label is obtained in the dog-eat-dog world of the 155-pound weight class, where over the past two years, the division has become jam-packed with championship-caliber contenders.