Cub Swanson, a veteran featherweight fighter, has announced that his upcoming fight at UFC 327 will mark the end of his professional career. The 42-year-old will face Nate Landwehr on April 11 at the Kaseya Center in Miami. Swanson's management confirmed the retirement via Instagram.
Cub Swanson, who has been a professional mixed martial artist since July 2004, revealed that his bout at UFC 327 against Nate Landwehr will be his final fight. Bloodline Combat Sports Agency, Swanson's management, shared the news on Instagram, stating, "Team captain @cubswanson takes the final walk to the Octagon to finish his legendary career in Miami!"
Swanson holds a professional record of 30-14, with a 15-10 mark in the UFC. He is the last active fighter from the WEC era in the UFC roster, having gone 5-3 in that promotion after debuting at WEC 26 in March 2007. There, he faced notable opponents including Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes, and Jens Pulver. Swanson entered the UFC via UFC on FOX 1 against Ricardo Lamas following the WEC's absorption.
Throughout his UFC tenure, Swanson has competed against top featherweights, securing victories over Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, Jeremy Stephens, and Darren Elkins, among others. From January 2012 to June 2014, he won six consecutive fights. A memorable performance came in his 2016 bout with Doo Ho Choi at UFC 206, which was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame's fight wing.
Swanson experienced setbacks, including a four-fight losing streak from December 2017 to May 2019 against Brian Ortega, Frankie Edgar, Renato Moicano, and Shane Burgos. However, he has since gone 5-3 in his last eight fights, highlighted by a third-round knockout of Billy Quarantillo in December 2024.
Following that win, Swanson expressed uncertainty about retirement during an April interview on MMAJunkie Radio. "I’ve been doing it for a long time," he said. "When is enough enough? That’s kind of where I’m at. … I know I can still do it, so I’m open to another fight if it’s the right fight and I get excited about it. ... I’m more 60-40, not fighting any more at this point."
The three-round featherweight matchup against Landwehr, who stands at 18-7 overall and 5-5 in the UFC, was already scheduled. Swanson has earned post-fight honors 15 times for his exciting style, though he never contended for a title in WEC or UFC.
