Cub Swanson’s Nickname: What Is the Story Behind the UFC Star’s Moniker?

In the world of mixed martial arts, fighters often carry stories that go beyond their performances inside the Octagon. Cub Swanson, a seasoned UFC featherweight and arguably a future Hall of Famer, is no exception. Over the years, fans have wondered about the origin of his unique moniker, which has become as iconic as his explosive fighting style. However, like many aspects of Swanson’s career, the story behind his nickname is more personal than one might expect.

While Swanson’s achievements in the UFC are celebrated, his personality and principles have also set him apart. Known for his quiet confidence and refusal to engage in trash-talking theatrics, Swanson believes in letting his journey speak for itself. But before diving into his philosophy on rivalry and respect, let’s uncover the roots of the nickname that has followed him from childhood to the pinnacle of combat sports!

Cub Swanson reveals the story behind his nickname ‘Cub’

Back in 2017, Swanson was interviewed by ‘Academy’ wherein he was asked about his first name. The Californian mixed martial artist’s real name is Kevin Luke Swanson. But his older brother, who had trouble calling him ‘Kevin’, began calling him ‘Cub’. ‘Killer’ said, “My brother couldn’t say my real name, Kevin, when he was little, so he called me Cub. That was just my name from when I was a baby on.”

The MMA fighter further revealed that he had a browner skin and chubbier body than his two brothers. This indeed made him resemble a bear cub and so, the name stuck. He said, “It’s one of those names where you don’t even remember what your real name is because everyone always called you that.”

But that’s not his sole nickname. Back in 2012, in an interview with MMA Junkie, Swanson revealed that Greg Jackson’s camp began calling him ‘Killer Cub’. Following his victory at UFC on FX 4, the fighter claimed that he got the announcer pretty close to announcing him as ‘Killer Cub’, but the plan never came to fruition.

Despite the dangerous monikers, the fighter is not much of a trash-talker. Let us find out what Swanson’s beliefs are for not indulging in trash talks and building up a rivalry against his opponent.

Swanson reveals his thoughts on trash-talking

In the same interview, Swanson was asked about his opinion about fighters who try to make a fake grudge match just to sell fights. The UFC featherweight contender revealed that, while genuine feuds excited him, the fake ones where the fighters had the intention of pushing out their fights were bothersome for him. And then he revealed that he didn’t need to talk trash about his opponents. Swanson believes that doing so made him a better person. Furthermore, he opined that speaking in public was a moral obligation for him, and was something that he never really wanted to do.

The California native reckoned, “I don’t need trash talk. I think fighting made me a better person and I cherish that. It taught me about having goals and reaching them and that people could look up to me. Public speaking is something I never wanted to do but I took it as a moral obligation. I thought to myself,  Look, you were in a bad situation and you got out. It’s your obligation to show people how you did it.”

With numerous records under his belt, from 14 UFC featherweight victories to 10 fight-night bonuses, Swanson’s consistency and grit define his legacy. Facing Billy Quarantillo at UFC Tampa/UFC on ESPN 63, Swanson now has the opportunity to further cement his claim as one of the most action-packed fighters to ever step foot into the Octagon! Do you think Cub Swanson will be able to break Max Holloway‘s record of 10 fight night bonuses in the featherweight division against Qurantillo? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!