Frankie Edgar vs. Cub Swanson: What We Learned from Featherweight Tilt

Frankie Edgar had all the answers for Cub Swanson at UFC Fight Night 57.

The stage was set on Saturday night at the Frank Erwin Center in the heart of Austin, Texas, for a featherweight showdown between top contenders Edgar and Swanson. A win would have guaranteed Swanson an opportunity to challenge Jose Aldo for the featherweight title and erase a humiliating eight-second loss from five years ago.

For Edgar, it was a chance to step back into the forefront of the UFC title picture after coming up short in his last three attempts.

In a vintage performance of takedowns and top control, the former lightweight champ steamrolled Swanson for the better part of 24 minutes before latching on a rear-naked choke with four seconds left in the fifth round.

“Dana [White], you said you’d be watching. I’m coming for that belt,” Edgar told UFC commentator Jon Anik after the fight. “But if you don’t give it to me right away, I’m coming for it. For all the people that doubt me, this is just the beginning, I’m just getting started.”

Swanson, who showed significant strides in his striking, was completely overwhelmed in the grappling department. Fans have watched for years as the usually undersized Edgar was consistently forced to rely solely on lightning speed and superb timing to score takedowns at 155 pounds.

But in the featherweight division, Edgar is proving to be a bit of a bully on the ground. There were times in the fight where he just powered Swanson to the ground. His ability to control from top also opened up the opportunity for sustained and more focused ground-and-pound.

Similar to his fight against BJ Penn, Edgar maintained good posture from top position and smashed Swanson with steady dose of punches and elbows, leaving the Team Jackson featherweight star a bloody mess.

The No. 1 contender’s spot likely still belongs to Conor McGregor if he defeats Dennis Siver in January. But Edgar has renewed his position as a front-runner in the long list of contenders at 145 pounds.

As for Swanson, it’s back to the drawing board. There are some who will question his decision to even take the fight against Edgar, especially considering he was riding a six-fight win streak.

Perhaps it would have been wiser to have just waited for a title shot.