Going into the fight, Cub Swanson wanted to prove to the world that Artem Lobov did not belong inside the octagon with such elite talent. In the end of their five round war, however, it seemed that Swanson gained a lot of respect for the unranked featherweight warrior as Lobov ate everything Cub could throw at him only to keep walking forward.
The fight kicked off relatively evenly with Lobov outstriking Swanson. Lobov simply threw caution to the wind and went forward from the get go while Swanson wanted to ease himself into the fight; Cub did not throw a lot in the opening round, but it wasn’t long before he picked his opponent apart.
Lobov pushed forward at the same pace and simply attacked right down the middle. Swanson, on the other hand, started to change levels in the second round and attacked from various angles to keep Lobov guessing.
Lobov did not guess where he should block correctly often, as he was battered, bruised, and bloodied by the time the final round had ended. See what fighters of the octagon had to say about his war of a main event:
This is about to be quicker than microwaveable popcorn! #UFCNashville
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) April 23, 2017
Sorry ass Artem getting a main event spot. I thought April fools was 3 weeks ago
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) April 23, 2017
pretty sure @CubSwanson was a pirate in another life…
— Olivier Aubin (@oliaubin) April 23, 2017
So far Lobov doesn't look like he's in over his head. Good 1st round. Cub will have to turn it up on him
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) April 23, 2017
Wtf why stop it now BS @ufc #UFCNashville
— Truck Gordon (@TruckMMA_UFC) April 23, 2017
#cubswanson #confidence is growing as the #fight goes on #letsgocub #killercub
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) April 23, 2017
Some very pretty stuff in that round by @CubSwanson #UFCNashville
— Zachary Makovsky (@ZachFunSize) April 23, 2017
Main event ?????? #UFCNashville
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) April 23, 2017
Judo throw!!! #UFCNashville
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) April 23, 2017
Lobov showed he can take a punch, but Swanson clearly was the better fighter . #UFCNashville
— Chris Clements (@menaceclements) April 23, 2017
Cub won
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) April 23, 2017
That was a good fightttt
— Katlyn Chookagian (@blondefighter) April 23, 2017
What did you make of the main event scrap? Let us know in the comment section below!
