The conclusion of UFC Fight Night 57 at the Frank Erwin Centre in Austin, Texas should see the installation of an outright number one contender for Jose Aldo’s featherweight title as Frankie Edgar (17-4-1) takes on Cub Swanson (21-5) despite Conor McGregor saying otherwise .
The build up
There is an air of uncertainty about what will be next for the winner of the eagerly anticipated featherweight match with some speculating that if former UFC lightweight champion Edgar wins he will not be granted the next crack featherweight title, with the shot going to the #5 ranked McGregor. Edgar enters this bout looking to secure his third win inside the octagon since his July 2013 unanimous decision defeat to current champion Aldo, some fans think he may need to secure one more victory to halt a mega-fight between the Brazilian and the brash Irishman.
On the other hand the man facing him across the octagon in the early hours of Sunday has gone on an almost three-year unbeaten run that has seen best Ross Pearson, Dustin Poirer and Jeremy Stephens to name a few since suffering a second round submission loss to Ricardo Lamas in November 2011. If Swanson can get past Edgar he will have won his seventh fight on the bounce and surly has done a enough to earn a rematch and a chance at revenge against featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo who spectacularly stopped Swanson in 0:08 at WEC 41 in June 2009.
The fight
With a combination of outstanding movement, solid wrestling and striking that took him all the way to the summit of the lightweight ranks, Edgar’s all-round game is something that can’t be denied. During the course of his career, the 33-year old has gone from being considered “just a wrestler” to under the tutelage of Renzo Gracie, Phil Nurse and Mark Henry one of the best mixed martial artists. Fruits of Toms River, New Jersey raised fighter labour has been clear for all to see with Edgar putting on a number of stellar performances as he claimed the lightweight ranks, defeating Sean Sherk and Matt Veach on route to ripping the UFC lightweight title from around the waist of BJ Penn at UFC 112, using his fantastic movement and mixing it with ever improving striking and takedowns defeat “The Prodigy.”
There’s no doubt that over the last few years Swanson has positioned himself as one of the most dominant fighters currently competing inside the octagon using his renowned grappling prowess, with a black belt in both Judo and BJJ, and under the guidance of world famous boxing coach Joel Diaz, his striking continues to evolve. When you combine his ever improving striking with his granite chin which has allowed Swanson to stand and trade with his opponents you can see why the 31-year old has won four of his last six fights by way of KO/TKO.
The prediction
This featherweight clash leaves much to be desired from MMA fans, who are expecting a colossal match-up between the pair, however you must look towards Swanson’s overall MMA game as the difference maker in this fight. Yes, Edgar looked excellent against an over-the-hill Penn, his wrestling is phenomenal, and he is one of the best users of the jab in the sport today, but he is facing a man on an incredible amount of hype. Swanson’s ground game is superb, and he knows how to take a punch, if he can weather an early storm from Edgar he surely takes the win.
UFC Fight Night 57 full predictions (winners in bold)
MAIN CARD (BT Sports/Fox Sports)
Frankie Edgar < Cub Swanson
Edson Barboza > Bobby Green
Chico Camus < Brad Pickett
Oleksiy Oliynyk > Jared Rosholt
Joseph Benavidez > Dustin Ortiz
UNDER CARD (BT Sports/Fox Sports)
Isaac Vallie -Flagg < Matt Wiman
Josh Copeland < Ruslan Magomedov
Luke Barnatt > Roger Narvaez
Nick Hein < James Vick
Akbarh Arreola < Yves Edwards
FIGHT PASS
Kailin Curran < Paige Vanzant
Dooho Choi > Juan Puig
