Edgar beats Swanson in UFC at Austin
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Frankie Edgar beat Cub Swanson with a rear naked choke in the final seconds of an Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight fight Saturday night.
Edgar dominated after the first round and put an exclamation point on the win at 4:56 of the fifth round, forcing Swanson to tap out. It was the latest finish in UFC history.
“That’s what we do this for, I want to put guys away,” Edgar said of the late finish. “I wanted to put a stamp on (the victory) … I wanted to fight to the bell and get that statement and prove I deserve a title shot.”
Edson Barboza won the co-main event with a unanimous decision against Bobby Green in a lightweight bout.
Edgar dictated the style and kept most of the fight on the mat where he outwrestled Swanson. From a dominant position, Edgar consistently applied a strong combination of punches and elbows that left Swanson bloodied.
Both fighters were looking to springboard their way to a title shot in the 135 to 145-pound division and Edgar put himself in a position for a rematch with titleholder Jose Aldo.
UFC president Dana White had reportedly promised Swanson a title shot if he won, something that Edgar didn’t forget about after his victory.
“I’m coming for that belt,” Edgar said. “I give Cub credit for taking the fight. If he was promised a title fight and I beat him, then I think I deserve it.”
Edgar, 33, has now won three straight fights after falling to Aldo in a championship bout on Feb. 2, 2013. However, Conor McGregor could stand in Edgar’s way. The 26-year-old Irishmen is a rising star and could be selected to fight Aldo over Edgar.
“It should be me,” Edgar said. “What can I do? I’ll put my head down go back to the gym and continue to prove I earn a shot if they don’t pick me.”
Swanson, who had won his last six fights, kept the bout standing up in the first round, avoiding several takedown attempts from Edgar. However, he couldn’t stay off the mat after that.
Edgar secured a takedown with 3:17 remaining in the second round and opened up a gash above Swanson’s left eye, which he then attacked for the rest of the fight. The takedowns then started coming earlier, with Edgar gaining dominant position on the ground less than a minute into each of the final three rounds.
Swanson was saved by the bell in the third and fourth rounds. He wasn’t as lucky in the fifth where Edgar slipped his arm around Swanson’s neck and forced a tap-out.
Green tried to play head games with the Barboza throughout their fight. He consistently egged Barboza on, but was soundly defeated as the 28-year-old Brazilian landed several dangerous blows.
Earlier in the night, Oleksiy Oliynyk quickly ended his heavyweight bout when he knocked out Jared Rosholt 3:22 into the first round with a vicious left hook. In flyweight fights, Joseph Benavidez won a unanimous decision against Dustin Ortiz, and Chico Camus beat Brad Pickett in a split decision.
