Cub Swanson Thought He Was ‘Down Two Rounds’ Against Hakeem Dawodu

Cub Swanson looked as surprised as anyone when his unanimous decision victory over Hakeem Dawodu in the UFC on ESPN 51 co-main event was announced.

“I felt like I was in the moment and having fun,” Swanson said during his Octagon interview. “I thought I took more shots. I always beat myself up so I’d have to watch it again. I was so worried going into this fight. I got a name now and people expect greatness.”

Each round was closely contested, but according to MMADecisions.com, 11 of the 13 media members who scored the bout saw it in favor of Dawodu. However, all three cageside judges submitted 29-28 tallies in favor of Swanson. At the post-fight press conference, the World Extreme Cagefighting veteran reiterated his earlier sentiment that he thought his opponent would get the nod.

“I’m always hard on myself,” Swanson said. “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 thought I at least won two rounds, so it’s cool.”

The 39-year-old Swanson has been victorious in four of his last six Octagon appearances dating back to October 2019. Still, the Palm Springs, California, native knows that his time in the sport is limited.

“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.”