6 Main Card Predictions For UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens

1. Cub Swanson vs. Jeremy Stephens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4pjV1JZd7M Weight Class: Featherweight In the main event of the night, Cub Swanson (20-5), who hasn't lost a fight since featherweight title challenger Ricardo Lamas submitted him back in 2011, takes on long-time UFC vet Jeremy Stephens (23-9), coming in on a three-fight win streak of his own. The deciding factor here will be the level of competition each fighter has faced and overcome in their respective careers: Swanson has had success against top level guys, and is ranked 4th in the featherweight division, while Stephens, who made his featherweight debut in May of 2013, is ranked 11th. The drop from lightweight, where he fought for years, has certainly reinvigorated his career, but this is Stephens toughest challenge at featherweight to date, and he struggled against some of the higher calibre lightweights he found himself up against. In fact, prior to his drop in weight, he was on a three fight skid with losses to Anthony Pettis, Donald Cerrone, and Yves Edwards. Swanson, meanwhile, is likely next in line for a title shot after Chad Mendes, who meets champ Jose Aldo for the second time this August. A win over Stephens would cement his title contender status, and depending on the outcome of Aldo/Mendes 2, he could be seeing a title shot in early 2015 - should he get past Stephens. That's no small task, and Stephens will be looking to spoil the party and throw his name into title contention talk as well. A win here will move him several spots up the rankings, but he's realistically an extra fight away from Aldo should he beat Swanson. Stephens is a guy who can finish, with 15 wins by KO/TKO, while Swanson possesses a more rounded game, with almost as many submissions as knockouts. That said, most of his submissions were earlier in his career, and he's relied more on his hands of late - four of his five straight UFC wins since the Lamas fight have been via punches. Swanson should take this, but it has the makings of a great back-and-forth battle. Late round TKO by Swanson if it doesn't go the distance.