Success the best revenge for Cub Swanson after injury-filled past

There was a time when it seemed every step of Cub Swanson‘s MMA career was shadowed by an injury.

Broken hands, broken jaw, a broken face – there aren’t too many wounds the UFC featherweight hasn’t endured.

But now, Swanson, 30, is on the biggest roll of his career with six straight wins inside the octagon, including a “Fight of the Night” win over Jeremy Stephens at this past month’s UFC Fight Night 44. The decision put him on the short list for a title shot.

At times like these, Swanson admits there are moments when he wants to tell off those who doubted his ability to keep fighting after every setback. But then again, he might also want to thank them.

“People along the way said certain things and didn’t mean it, but (didn’t know) how rude it was or how blunt or how messed up it was,” he told MMAjunkie Radio. “I’m glad I stuck with it. I was just talking to my stepmom about that today about never letting it get to me and sticking with it, and look where I’m at now.”

Ranked No. 3 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA featherweight rankings, Swanson (21-5 MMA, 6-1 UFC) currently is unbooked for his next bout but could face the winner of an upcoming title rematch between champ Jose Aldo (24-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and Chad Mendes (16-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC), which is set for Oct. 25 in Rio de Janeiro at UFC 179.

Swanson also could take a bout with onetime featherweight title challenger and ex-lightweight champ Frankie Edgar (17-4-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC), who expressed interest in a fight following his win over B.J. Penn at this past month’s The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale.

Whatever’s next for Swanson, though, it promises to be big. And because he didn’t listen to negativity along the way, he’s reaping the rewards of his efforts in the gym.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, including UFC 179, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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