Breaking news from ESPN this afternoon, who is reporting that the top ranked UFC featherweight Cub Swanson will not renew his UFC contract, and instead plans to fight his last fight in December and test the open market.
The UFC has seen a number of top ranked UFC fighters flee over to Bellator.
Recently, legends, household names, and division elite have all left the UFC for Bellator, Cub Swanson would be another drastic hit to the already dwindling UFC roster.
Royce Gracie, Kimbo Slice (RIP), Roy “Big Country” Nelson, Tito Ortiz, Chael Sonnen, Matt Mitrione, Rory MacDonald, Benson Henderson, Lorenz Larkin and more have all recently left the UFC and signed with Bellator.
The UFC cannot lose Cub Swanson too.
In his chat with ESPN, Swanson stated he’s not making the money he can retire on and feels at this stage in his career he’s due a better offer than the UFC is coughing up.
Apparently, the two parties have been negotiating for months but now talks have stalled.
It appears Cub Swanson may enter 2018 a free agent.
Swanson (25-7) is scheduled to face Brian Ortega in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Dec. 9 in Fresno, California. As of now, that event marks the end of his UFC contract.
The perennially-ranked featherweight has been fighting for 13 years, and never appeared in a championship fight. He also says he hasn’t made enough money to comfortably retire.
At this point in his life, Swanson feels he’s earned a contract that would guarantee both. The UFC has announced a featherweight title fight between Max Holloway and Frankie Edgar on Dec. 2, and Swanson wants it in writing he’s next. He also wants his next deal to pay him the kind of money that would secure his family’s future.
After months of negotiations, Swanson didn’t feel the UFC’s offers did that. So, barring re-opened talks, he intends to fight out the deal.
“It’s a power move,” Swanson told ESPN’s Five Rounds. “Of course, I want to get paid more. The thing people don’t understand is that I’ve got to a point where I’m making good money and it’s enough to live on, but it’s not retirement money. Not even close.
“I’ve been doing this for 13 years and I’m in the prime of my career, but at some point it’s going to dip off and I’d like to walk away before I start having really bad performances — with enough money in my account to make smart investments and do the right things. I just want that opportunity.”
