A featherweight match-up between Cub Swanson and Darren Elkins is on tap for a UFC event on Dec. 18.
Together, Swanson and Elkins have a combined 44-fights within the UFC. News of the reported pairing was first revealed by the UFC featured on their events page. According to the report, the event is set to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, and presumably will be contended inside the UFC Apex.
A seasoned veteran of the UFC’s featherweight division, many wonder how much gas is left in Swanson’s tank. The 37-year-old last competed against Georgia’s Giga Chikadze. However, early into the first round “Ninja” found his sweet spot ‘Giga kick’ and managed to finish Swanson with strikes. Since the California native is 2-5 in his last seven Octagon appearances, many wonder if he might be nearing the twilight years of his fighting career.
Facing Swanson is Darren Elkins, who always comes to fight. Having been on the receiving end of some of the most spectacular, come-from-behind victories, Elkins can never be counted out of a fight. While his style might not be appealing to some, the pressure and pace of his style are how he is able to win fights that many believe he is not supposed to. For example, his 2017 win against Mirsad Bektić sticks out. Elkins was behind on the scorecards less than two minutes before the end of the fight. Miraculously, the featherweight found a way, and his pressure and relentless striking overwhelmed the more refined striker, Bektić.
Elkins is looking to punch a win after losing back-to-back fights. Similarly, Swanson is attempting to rebound after his finish loss to Chikadze. Both athletes enter the contest with a wealth of experience collected through years of fighting in the UFC. The Dec. 18 showdown will certainly let fans know if Swanson is aging out of 145-pounds or if a title run is still inside “Killer” Cub.
Who do you think will win this featherweight contest?
