Cub Swanson targeting end of the year return, open to a rematch with Jose Aldo

Perennial UFC featherweight contender Cub Swanson (25-7 MMA) is currently riding an impressive four fight win streak and is on the cusp of earning a shot at the promotions coveted featherweight title.

Swanson was last seen in action this past April in the main event of UFC Fight Night 108 where he scored a unanimous decision victory over Artem Lobov.

Cub walked away with his sixth career UFC performance bonus that night, as his scrap with “The Russian Hammer” was given “Fight of the night” honors.

Prior to that, “Killer” Cub was coming off a “Fight of the year” performance at UFC 206 in Toronto, which saw him earn a unanimous decision victory over “The Korean Superboy” Doo Ho Choi.

After stretching his current win streak to four in a row with his most recent victory over Lobov, Swanson has since been petitioning for a title fight with current UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway.

Unfortunately for Cub, “Blessed” is currently busy trying to negotiate a new contract with UFC officials and appears destined to make his first title defense against former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.

While the newly crowned champion from Hawaii may have his sites set on “The Answer”, former featherweight title holder Jose Aldo has recently expressed his interest in having a rematch with Swanson.

While Cub has not been officially offered a fight with the former Brazilian champion from UFC officials, he is willing to entertain a possible rematch with Aldo, as he told BJPENN.com’s Chris Taylor in an interview earlier this evening.

“Well Jose Aldo has been asking for me. Basically this is what happened. They told me and Frankie (Edgar) from the beginning that if Max (Holloway) beat Aldo at UFC 212 in June, then it would be a toss-up between myself and Frankie, but most likely Edgar would get it (the next title shot). But, if Aldo had defeated Max then it was 100% going to be me. So obviously Aldo didn’t win so the UFC had to choose between me or Frankie. And from what I understand is it will now probably be Frankie. But nothing is set in stone because I think Max is holding out and trying to renegotiate his contract. So right now there is no fight.”

Swanson continued:

“In the meantime, Aldo has just been trying to fight. He has been calling me out and saying he just wants to fight anybody really. I haven’t spoken to the UFC yet so I am not sure who they plan to throw at me. They know I just had a baby so they have been giving me my space. But I plan on talking with them (the UFC) really soon. But yea, I am open to the Aldo fight. I just think it is funny because I have been doing everything I can to try and get a rematch with him for like eight years and now that he is in the position that he is in, without having his belt, he is demanding that we fight. So it’s kind of like ‘Oh, f*ck you’, it is not the fight I need. But it is a fight I will take.”

Swanson and Aldo first met back in the WEC, with Jose emerging victorious via a spectacular flying knee knockout.

Aldo has been desperately trying to secure himself a spot on November’s UFC 217 pay-per-view fight card in New York City. However, if he really wants to have a rematch with Swanson, then he will have to do so on Cub’s terms.

“So when it comes to the spot in November, I don’t really want that fight. It is not a dream of mine really, I mean to fight at Madison Square Garden would be cool, but honestly at this point I would like to fight closer to home. So the fight I want is on New Years (UFC 219) because Las Vegas is about as close as it gets for me, well other than Anaheim.”

He continued:

“UFC 219 would be ideal. The only reason I would take a fight sooner than that, would be if Frankie and Holloway fight sooner and the UFC wants me and Aldo on that card. Or me and someone else on that card as a possible replacement in case Frankie gets injured. But I don’t think Frankie would ever pullout of a title fight. But on the chance that he does and the UFC wants me on that card for insurance, then yes I could understand. But other than that, it just doesn’t make sense for me.”

Cub has currently been busy fathering his new baby girl Royal Swanson. With that said, “Killer” is now at a point where he can begin training and looks forward to see what the UFC has in terms of options for his next opponent.

Who would you like to see Cub Swanson fight next? Sound off PENN Nation!