Nearly ten years after they first met in WEC, a rematch between Cub Swanson and Jose Aldo is being targeted for UFC 233 in January.
A rematch nearly a decade in the making is being eyed for UFC 233 in Anaheim this coming January. According to a report by Brazil’s Combate, former featherweight champion Jose Aldo (27-4) is expected to take on ‘Killer’ Cub Swanson (25-10) at the event. The pair first met back in World Extreme Cagefighting, at WEC 41 in June 2009. The fight ended in just eight seconds thanks to a flying knee by Aldo.
WEC was later acquired by the UFC back in the Zuffa era, and Aldo’s featherweight dominance continued up to his meeting with Conor McGregor at UFC 194. He’s 2-2 since then, losing back-to-back fights against 145lb champ Max Holloway, sandwiched between wins over Frankie Edgar and Jeremy Stephens. The Stephens win, at UFC Calgary this past July, looked to be a return to form for the former champion.
Cub Swanson, meanwhile, has lost three straight under the UFC banner, making the timing of this fight rather interesting. Dropping fights to both Brian Ortega (a year ago) and Frankie Edgar (at UFC Atlantic City in April), Swanson was most recently defeated by Renato Moicano via submission at UFC 227.
UFC 233 takes place January 26 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The card, topped by a flyweight title fight between T.J. Dillashaw and Henry Cejudo, goes head-to-head with the finale of Bellator’s World Heavyweight Grand Prix. With that in mind, stacking UFC 233 is a very, very good idea.
Update: Swanson has responded to Combate’s report saying he won’t be ready for UFC 233 and wants a date in February
I love this fight but unfortunately somebody spoke too soon. I am not fighting on 233 but I am willing to do it February 17th on ESPN 1
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) December 3, 2018
