Cub Swanson and Doo Ho Choi put on one of the best fights you’ll ever see tonight at UFC 206, trading offense back and forth for the full 15 minutes with both men refusing to quit, despite being rocked with huge shots, leading to a Swanson win on the scorecards.
Round One:
Swanson with a low kick, but Choi counters with a right hand. They go into the clinch and Choi lands some hard knees before they break apart.
Another leg kick by Swanson met by a right hand from Choi. Swanson tries to press forward and Choi keeps him at bay with the jab.
Choi just misses with a head kick attempt. Swanson thinks about a spinning kick, but bails out on it. Right hand lands for Swanson.
Choi rapier-like with his left hand. Nice punch from Swanson. He just misses with an uppercut and flows into a kick that misses.
Into the clinch goes Choi, but it’s Swanson who lands punches to the body before they separate. Punch lands for Choi, but then Swanson comes back with good strikes of his own.
The South Korean able to secure the clinch again and eventually moves Swanson over to the cage. Swanson able to reverse position though and lands knees to the thigh of his opponent.
CHoi with a sneaky leg trip that puts Swanson down, but he gets right back up. Choi connects with punches. Solid punch to the body. Body kick from Swanson now.
Rangey left hand for Choi and a counter lands for Swanson. Hook kick attempt misses for Swanson. Final 10 seconds and Swanson swoops for a single leg takedown, but Choi does well to keep his balance and stuff it. Competitive first round!
Round Two:
Swanson pressing forward with punches, but Choi tags him. Left hook gets through for Swanson. He lands another hook as Choi clinches. Choi with knees to the midsection and then they break.
Solid jab for Choi and a left hook. Swanson with strikes and he rocks Choi. Swanson swarming on him, but Choi survives for now.
Choi lands a big punch of his own that hurts Swanson. Swanson immediately back on the offensive though, but that proves to be a mistake as Choi’s huge power tells again as he connects and has Swanson wobbled.
Choi going all out for a finish with heavy artillery, but even though he’s badly hurt Swanson guts it out and survives the storm.
Now Swanson changes the momentum again by landing a takedown. Not doing a whole lot with it, but buying himself time to recover.
Choi finally gets up. Choi coming at him, but then Swanson lands a cartwheel kick to the face! Swanson showboating as he lands another punch. Crazy fight we’re witnessing here!
Swanson with a body kick and a punch upstairs. More punches land and Choi’s legs buckle, but he stays upright. Spinning backfist for Swanson. How is Choi still standing? What a chin he’s got.
Swanson int the clinch taking a breather. Back to striking range in the final seconds of the round and Choi is able to land a final flurry.
This is a ‘Fight Of The Year’ contender, and we’ve still got another round to go!
Round Three:
Nice overhand left lands for Swanson. He lands again with an elbow. Right hand for Choi. Choi with a better right. Leg kick for Swanson and a jab for Choi.
Body kick for Swanson. He tries for a takedown, but it’s stuffed. Right hand for Choi connects. Choi clinches and lands a knee to the body.
Choi with another punch and tries to take Swanson to the mat. He only partially succeeds in getting Swanson to his knees, then back upright. Choi sticks at it and gets Swanson down again. However, Swanson spins and gets on top!
Choi almost able to reverse, but Swanson remains on top. Punch to the head and body land for Swanson as he tries to pass guard. Choi able to find space to stand up.
Swanson comes forward and tags Choi with more hard punches. Excellent judo takedown from Swanson to take Choi down, but they are soon back to the feet again and go bac kto war with punches and clinch work.
Swanson singing for the fences. He lands hard, but Choi’s chin is still up to the task. Choi working a takedown and takes his opponent’s back. Back up again they go and work in the clinch, exhausted but not giving up.
Terrific left and a right for Swanson has Choi hurt yet again. Not sure where Swanson is finding the energy to do this, but he is wading forward with ferocious offense, landing a superman punch and a capoeira kick in amongst it all and Choi finally falls to the mat under fire.
Choi still conscious though and attempting to defend himself as the final seconds tick down on an absolutely crazy war ends – we’re heading to the judges scorecards.
Decision:
Amazing stuff and the judges are unanimous in their decision (30-27 x2, 29-28) – Cub Swanson is the winner of a fight that feels like a strong contender to be the best we’ve seen all year.
A remarkable display of skill and toughness from both men then and that proves that Swanson is very much still a top contender in the featherweight division, while Choi also emerges as a new fan favorite despite coming out on the wrong end of the decision.
