December 15, 2024 2: 00 pm ET
TAMPA, Fla. – Retired or not retired? Cub Swanson doesn’t know, but he’s at peace.
In the UFC on ESPN 63 co-main event Saturday at Amalie Arena, Swanson (30-14 MMA, 15-10 UFC) had WEC diehards of yesteryear feeling a bit nostalgic as he turned back the clock and knocked out Billy Quarantillo (18-7 MMA, 6-5 UFC) to conclude a brawling war.
The bout earned Fight of the Night honors and was Swanson’s second win in three fights, but in the cage post-fight he indicated the high note could mark his final bout as he had promised his wife it would be.
Backstage as he spoke with reporters, including MMA Junkie, that sentiment remained the same. Swanson, 41, is largely unsure of what the future holds.
“I try not to put too much on it because it’s ultimately my decision and what I want to do,” Swanson said. “But my biggest things for this fight is to just not be pressured or put the pressure on myself to perform and be tense and just have this war. I had a little bit of a war. I was trying to be fast and loose and paint a picture and make it beautiful and something I could be proud of, and if it was the last, something I could be proud of and say, ‘I’m happy with that.’”
Swanson: ‘I’m always going to be tempted’
In MMA, many fighters who retire end up changing their minds in the months or even weeks or days that