Nathaniel Wood wants to fight legends like Cub Swanson after UFC London win

LONDON – Nathaniel Wood is eyeing big names after his successful featherweight debut.

Wood (18-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) defeated Charles Rosa (14-8 MMA, 5-8 UFC) in an entertaining battle this past Saturday at UFC Fight Night 208.

The London native plans on staying at 145 pounds for the foreseeable future. He was open to being Frankie Edgar’s final fight when asked during media day and is interested in fighting the likes of Cub Swanson (28-12 MMA, 13-8 UFC) next.

“I would love to go up against legends,” Wood told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “Someone like Cub Swanson. I don’t know if he’s retired now or still fighting. Someone like that would be cool. I used to watch him when he was in the WEC before I was even fighting, so something like that would be exciting.

“But other than that, I don’t really care. Whoever the UFC obviously want to give me. Ideally someone that’s gonna get me up in them rankings, but I don’t turn anyone down. So whoever Sean Shelby, Mick Maynard, Dana White, whoever they want to give me, I’ll take them on.”

Last time Wood was scheduled to fight, he didn’t get to make the walk. He was booked to face Vince Morales on the last London card in March, but the fight was scrapped just days before after Morales withdrew with illness. So when Wood competed on Saturday, it was his first fight since a close decision loss to Casey Kenney in October 2020.

“The difference was I felt a lot of pressure in this one,” Wood said. “Obviously being away for almost two years now, going up a weight class, fighting back in my hometown, there was a lot of pressure. As they say, pressure makes diamonds, so I’m glad I put on a performance.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 208.