Cub Swanson

Swanson faced Shane Burgos on May 4, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 151. He lost the fight by split decision.

Swanson faced Kron Gracie on October 12, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 19. He won the fight via unanimous decision. This win earned him the Fight of the Night bonus award.

On December 12, 2019 Swanson competed at Quintet Ultra as part of Team WEC. In his bout with Jake Shields he tore his ACL, meniscus in his left knee. Swanson stated UFC paid his medical costs and hopes to be back at the end of 2020 after his knee has healed from surgery.

The UFC acknowledges Swanson's ground game. In his fight with Doo Ho Choi and Dennis Siver, Swanson escaped from inferior positions. Despite this, 7 out of Swanson's 11 losses are by submission however since these losses he was highly praised for his takedown defence against world class jiu-jitsu fighter Kron Gracie at UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson in 2019. Swanson stated on his UFC profile that Superman double wrist lock is his favorite move.

Swanson faced Frankie Edgar in a rematch on April 21, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 128. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Swanson faced Renato Moicano on August 4, 2018 at UFC 227. He lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.

Swanson married Kenda Perez on June 1, 2018. The two had their first child, Royal Rae Swanson, on August 21, 2017. Their identical twin sons, Saint Cub Swanson and King Cub Swanson, were born on September 2, 2018.

Swanson faced Brian Ortega on December 9, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 123. He lost the fight via submission in the second round. Despite the loss, Swanson earned his third consecutive (and fifth overall) Fight of the Night bonus award. The fight with Ortega also marked the last bout of his contract and albeit taking offers from a variety of promotions, he decided to re-sign with the UFC due to consistent drug testing by USADA.

UFC Gym partnered with Swanson to open a UFC Gym in Costa Mesa. Swanson taught intermediate MMA classes at the UFC Gym on May 10, 2017. Classes included Boxing, kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. "As a native of Southern California," remarked Swanson on the UFC website,"I look forward to bringing this community, which is both near and dear to my heart, a myriad of amazing amenities and programs to help them TRAIN different and live a healthier lifestyle."

At his #10 UFC fight, Swanson faced Hacran Dias on April 16, 2016, at UFC on Fox 19. Swanson won the fight via unanimous decision.

Max Holloway challenged Swanson on April 18, 2015 at UFC on Fox 15. Swanson was out-struck in the first two rounds. Holloway then set up a guillotine choke in the third round, forcing Swanson to tap out. Following the fight, Swanson announced via Twitter that he had suffered a broken jaw and a broken right hand. The two-loss-streak made Swanson drop out as a title contender. "It's really hard to explain," said Swanson in an interview, "You want something so bad and it may come and it may not, you can go crazy doing all of that."

Swanson was expected to face Dennis Siver on February 16, 2013, at UFC on Fuel TV: Barão vs. McDonald. However, Siver pulled out of the bout. Dustin Poirier took Siver's spot. Swanson won by unanimous decision. As of March 2013, Swanson was ranked the #10 Featherweight in the world by Sherdog and ranked #5 within the UFC. Swanson's bout with Dennis Siver was rescheduled for July 6, 2013, at UFC 162. Swanson won via TKO in the third round. The performance earned both participants Fight of the Night honors.

In his second UFC fight, Swanson faced George Roop on January 28, 2012, at UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis. Prior the fight, Swanson said "I just really want to smash this kid". He boasted "I'm the more complete fighter and I have the tools to shut him down". Swanson won the fight via TKO in the second round.

On October 28, 2011, WEC merged with Ultimate Fighting Championship. As part of the merger, most WEC fighter contracts transferred to UFC.

Swanson was expected to face Erik Koch on March 3, 2011 at UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann. However, Swanson pulled out of the bout due to an injury. Swanson vs. Koch was rescheduled to take place on July 2 at UFC 132. However, Swanson was forced out of the bout with another injury.

On August 18, 2010, WEC 50, Swanson faced Chad Mendes. Mendes came from a wrestling background. He took Swanson down multiple times throughout the fight. Swanson lost via unanimous decision.

WEC schedule Swanson to fight Diego Nunes on April 5, 2009, at WEC 40. Nunes withdrew from the fight days before the bout due to a hand injury.

Hiroyuki Takaya took on Swanson on December 3, 2008, at WEC 37. Swanson won via unanimous decision. Both fighters earned the Fight of the Night honors. This was Swanson's first official WEC award.

On his WEC debut on March 24, 2007, Swanson submitted Tommy Lee by guillotine choke. Swanson earned a disclosed pay of $6000. He next defeated Micah Miller at WEC 28 via unanimous decision. Swanson was scheduled to fight Jens Pulver in Pulvers 145lb debut, the fight was pushed back three months when Pulver sustained an injury in training camp; Swanson accused Pulver of trying to duck the fight, which Pulver denied. They finally met at WEC 31, with Swanson losing via guillotine choke. The fight only lasted 35 seconds and marked the end of Swanson's eleven fight winning streak.

On July 25, 2004, Swanson made his first professional fight. MMA was not sanctioned in California in 2004, so Swanson competed at Total Combat in Mexico. His opponent, Shannon Gugerty, submitted Swanson via Rear-Naked Choke. The fight lasted for just 30 seconds. Despite the loss, Swanson continued to compete in professional MMA fights. Swanson won nine fights before entering the WEC in 2007. This included a rematch with Gugerty in 2006. Other than TC, Swanson also competed in KOTC and BIB.

Swanson began training MMA in 2003. His typical workout routine involves striking in the morning and cardio exercises in the afternoon. Grappling sessions take place at night. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu medalist Rigan Machado coaches Swanson's BJJ. Former boxing champion Joel Díaz teaches Swanson boxing.

Kevin Luke "Cub" Swanson (born November 2, 1983) is an American professional mixed martial artist, who competes in the Featherweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Kevin Luke Swanson was born and raised mostly in Palm Springs, California, on November 2, 1983. He had a Swedish-American father and a Mexican mother. His widely used nickname Cub originates from his early childhood, as his brother could not say Swanson's real name and opted to call him Cub. Swanson has two older brothers Steve and Aaron, and two sisters of which one has Down syndrome. Swanson's father died of melanoma three months after he was born. Because of his mother's heavy grieving and subsequent drug addiction, Swanson and his siblings were then adopted and raised by their father's cousin. The adoptive family was religious so Swanson spent most of his early life in church. Swanson was also home-schooled for most of his young life. Swanson started playing soccer at the age of four, dreaming of professional career and playing in the World Cup. He and his oldest brother Steve succeeded well in soccer, winning majority of the AYSO tournaments they attended in their age divisions.

Underdog Artem Lobov challenged Swanson to a fight on April 22 at UFC Fight Night 108. Swanson won the fight via unanimous decision . The fight broke the record for most significant strikes landed (209) in a UFC Featherweight bout and in a UFC Fight Night. It also came #4 in most significant strikes landed in a single bout. Subsequently, both participants were awarded a Fight of the Night awards. This was Swanson's sixth Fight of the Night bonus. He broke his hand for the 10th time in his career.