Cub Swanson

Kevin Luke "Cub" Swanson (born November 2, 1983) is an American professional mixed martial artist.

He currently competes in the Featherweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Swanson was born and raised mostly in Palm Springs, California, on November 2, 1983.

He had a Swedish father and a Mexican mother.

His widely used nickname Cub originates from his early childhood, as his brother could not say Swanson's real name and opted to call him Cub.

Swanson has two older brothers Steve and Aaron, and two sisters of which one has Down syndrome.

Swanson's father died of melanoma three months after he was born.

Because of his mother's heavy grieving and subsequent drug addiction, Swanson and his siblings were then adopted and raised by their father's cousin.

The adoptive family was religious so Swanson spent most of his early life in church.

Swanson was also homeschooled for most of his young life.

Swanson started playing soccer at the age of four, dreaming of a professional career and playing in the World Cup.

He and his oldest brother Steve excelled in soccer, winning the majority of the AYSO tournaments they attended in their age divisions.

Eventually, when Swanson was 14, his adoptive parents divorced and he returned to his mother who at the time had recovered from the addiction.

Swanson then attended Cathedral City High School, along with future boxer Timothy Bradley.

At the time, Swanson associated himself with local gangs and participated in many streets fights.

He also drank alcohol and took recreational drugs.

The police arrested Swanson and two of his friends for committing a house robbery.

As a result, Swanson was placed in a juvenile detention center.

He was released when he was 17 years old.

At the age of 19, Swanson started working for United Cerebral Palsy, where he helped children with disabilities.

UFC fighter Joe Stevenson invited Swanson to train with him, which he accepted.

This marked Swanson's transition into professional MMA.

A professional since 2004, Swanson holds the most post-fight bonus awards in division history with eight, including his WEC tenure he has been awarded "Fight of the Night" honors ten times.

On July 25, 2004, Swanson made his first professional fight.

MMA was not sanctioned in California in 2004, so Swanson competed at Total Combat in Mexico.

His opponent, Shannon Gugerty, submitted Swanson via Rear-Naked Choke.

The fight lasted for just 30 seconds.

Despite the loss, Swanson continued to compete in professional MMA fights.

This included a rematch with Gugerty in 2006.

Other than TC, Swanson also competed in KOTC and BIB.

Swanson won nine fights before entering the WEC in 2007.

On his WEC debut on March 24, 2007, Swanson submitted Tommy Lee by guillotine choke.

Swanson earned a disclosed pay of $6000.

He next defeated Micah Miller at WEC 28 via unanimous decision.

Swanson was scheduled to fight Jens Pulver in Pulvers 145lb debut, the fight was pushed back three months when Pulver sustained an injury in training camp; Swanson accused Pulver of trying to duck the fight, which Pulver denied.

They finally met at WEC 31, with Swanson losing via guillotine choke.

The fight only lasted 35 seconds and marked the end of Swanson's eleven-fight winning streak.

Hiroyuki Takaya took on Swanson on December 3, 2008, at WEC 37.

Swanson won via unanimous decision.

Both fighters earned the Fight of the Night honors.