Cub Swanson unsure of decision win over Hakeem Dawodu: 'In my mind, I was down two rounds'

LAS VEGAS – Cub Swanson isn’t too sure he should’ve had his hand raised Saturday.

The UFC featherweight thought he lost a decision to Hakeem Dawodu in the co-main event at UFC on ESPN 51, but to his surprise, he was awarded a 29-28 victory across all three judges’ scorecards.

“I’m always hard on myself,” Swanson said when asked about the decision of the fight at the UFC on ESPN 51 post-fight press conference. “I didn’t think I won the first round. Everyone in my corner said I did, and that it was an easy one to call. I thought that he picked up some steam in the second, but I know I hurt him at the end of the second.

“So in my mind, I was down two rounds, and I was like, ‘I need to push the pace.’ He was powerful, and it was taking a toll on me, but my conditioning was good, so I was just trying to stay in his face. But I was mostly just mad about myself for not being a bit more active. It was a chess match in there. It was a difficult one, but I have to watch it again. It sounds like everyone (on my team) thought I at least won two rounds, so it’s cool.”

With the victory, Swanson (29-13 MMA, 14-9 UFC) was able to bounce back from a TKO loss to Jonathan Martinez in a failed bantamweight debut this past October.

The 39-year-old has been fighting professionally since 2004 and knows retirement is looming. As far as what’s next, Swanson has no preference. He’s just focused on doing what he loves – fighting.

“I’m close to the end,” Swanson said. “I’m just having fun at this point. That was my goal: to have some fun tonight. I’ve been fortunate to make some good money and make some investments, and I’m just trying to make sure my family is taken care of.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 51.