By Gareth A Davies
The Daily Telegraph
Cub Swanson, who faces Dustin Poirier in an eagerly anticipated featherweight bout at Wembley Arena a week on Saturday, revealed that he felt insulted by the first official UFC rankings published this week.
The American has no issue, however, with Anthony Pettis being given a title fight against his divisional champion Jose Aldo in August despite having only just stepped down from lightweight. “It is what it is,” Swanson told Telegraph Sport. “I expect to be in the title mix in the next eight to 10 months. It’s going to come.”
Swanson stormed through last year, winning his three bouts by knockout. “It’s my time. I’m firing on all cylinders, I’m stepping into my prime, and whether I get it this year, next year, or the year after, it’s going to happen,” he said. “That’s my goal.”
Swanson was due to face Dennis Siver at Wembley on Feb. 16 but the Russian got injured at his training camp. Poirier immediately replaced him. “At first I was bummed when the fight was called off, but when they gave me the name I thought it was cool,” Swanson said. “He’s a tall southpaw and I’ve been wanting to face opponents with different styles. This is a fight I wanted.”
But the new UFC rankings, decided by votes from the media, rankled with him. “I didn’t agree with them. I didn’t feel Dennis Siver should have been ahead of me. And I didn’t feel that the Korean Zombie [Chan Sung Jung] should be ahead of me.”
Swanson is ranked No. 6, Silver No. 5 and Jung No. 3.
“I don’t feel like Dennis Siver did enough to get up that high. He wasn’t ranked that high in the lightweight division. And he hasn’t fought the toughest guys. I feel the same with the Zombie.”
So how does he see his contest with Poirier. No. 2 versus No. 3?
“I don’t know. Poirier was up there but after he lost, he got bumped back a bit, but he’s definitely top 10. I should definitely be ranked higher than him right now.”
“Seeing as my only loss in the UFC is to Ricardo Lamas, I should be higher. People write that I got destroyed by Lamas, but if you look back at that fight, I was winning it, but I made a mistake, and he caught me. I’ve worked not to let that happen again.”
His three wins last year against Charles Oliveira, Ross Pearson and George Roop have matured Swanson, calmed him in preparation for fights. “I used to want to be the toughest dude out there, I don’t feel that’s necessary any more,” he explained. “I’ve proved I’m tough. I can be an intelligent fighter. It makes for a better overall fighter.
“I’ve been able to outsmart my opponents, and that’s the reason I’ve been winning. I’ve been throwing those power shots when it’s right to finish them. I’m training smarter.”
Swanson leaves his native Palm Springs in California for the UK on Friday, intent on fully acclimatising to the time difference by spending more than a week in London. “I used to be miserable for a whole week before the fight, so I intend to enjoy myself in London before the fight, as long as the weather is good.
“One thing I’ve learned, taking a page out of Clay Guida’s book after training with that guy, is to enjoy your time in the UFC. Every minute of it. I’m not going to turn into a mean animal until the day of the fight. I don’t have a problem turning the switch.”
Meanwhile, Northern Irish lightweight Norman Parke, a winner at ‘Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes’, will make his UFC debut against undefeated Guamian Jon Tuck on April 20 in San Jose, California.
UFC media rankings for 145lbs (featherweight)
Champion: Jose Aldo
1. Chad Mendes
2. Ricardo Lamas
3. Chan Sung Jung
4. Frankie Edgar
5. Dennis Siver
6. Cub Swanson
7. Dustin Poirier
8. Nik Lentz
9. Erik Koch
10. Clay Guida