Swanson: I want to dethrone the legend Aldo

Cub Swanson was given a tough Saturday to beat Jeremy Stevens. There were 21 fights in 24 hours on two continents. During the fight, one of the biggest stories of the year broke – Chael Sonnen had tested positive for HGH and EPO. And a month from now, the UFC will have had five more events.

Sure Swanson is now on a six-fight win streak, but to secure a title shot with the winner of Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes at UFC 176 on August 2, he probably should take to Twitter and threaten to smack Mrs. Aldo on the butt if she doesn’t make him some smoked salmon, with lingonberries.

Instead, it was Swanson being called out on Twitter, by the compelling Chan Sung Jung.

“@CubSwanson Fight me,” tweeted The Korean Zombie immediately after the fight, to much notice. TKZ is ranked #5 in the UFC’s latest rankings, to Swanson’s #4.

Next up was #9 Nick Lentz.

“@CubSwanson wants to fight in Mexico in November?” he tweeted. “I’ll fight him on his front porch tomorrow! @Danawhite.”

However, instead of making up a persona and going heel, Swanson spoke from the heart.

For me, winning a title is just like a dream,” he said. at the post-fight press conference. “It’s something I want to do so bad, but it’s something I feel is going to come to me if I just keep doing what I’m doing. If I keep doing what I’m doing, what I’m supposed to do, it’ll come. I just don’t feel like I have to beg or try to ask for it. If I just keep putting on good performances, it’ll come.

During a post fight interview on FOX Sports 1 Swanson was asked directly who he wants to fight if the UFC gives him a title shot.

“Of course I want to fight Aldo,” said Swanson. “That’s like Weidman beating Silva you know. I want to be the guy to dethrone the legend. But fighting for gold is fighting for gold.”

Swanson lost a unanimous decision to Chad Mendes in 2010 in the WEC, and lost in eight seconds to Jose Aldo the year before that, also in the WEC. There is no doubt that he wants a fight with either. And there is no doubt he has earned a title shot.

But mixed martial arts is not like a normal sport, all of which are regulated by non profit corporations, that ensure the most qualified athletes get the best opportunity. For better and for worse MMA is everywhere run by for profit businesses that are, well, in business – they aim to make money by putting on the fights people are most likely to pay for, with their eyes or with their money.

Swanson put on an exciting fight Saturday, against an exciting fighter, winning his sixth in a row. It remains to be seen if that is enough.