Cub Swanson added what might be the final spectacular highlight to his reel Saturday at UFC on ESPN 63 against Billy Quarantillo.
After a back-and-forth featherweight battle, Swanson (30-14 MMA, 15-10 UFC) found the fight-ending knockout punch on Quarantillo (18-7 MMA, 6-5 UFC) at the 1:36 mark of Round 3 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., and afterward the 40-year-old said this could be his final appearance in MMA competition.
“I kind of told my wife this would be the last one, so we’ll see,” Swanson said in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. “I’m kind of old, guys. I want to say I appreciate you letting a 40-year-old dad come out and entertain you.”
CUB SWANSON WITH THE WALK-OFF K.O. 💥 #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/21HA1szYbt
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 15, 2024
The first round was strong from Swanson. He landed some big shots and grew in confidence after backing Quarantillo up with multiple hard strikes. Quarantillo’s best work in the frame was a number of low kicks, as well as a late takedown.
This co-main has been ACTION PACKED since the start 👊
[ Tune in NOW on @ESPNPlus & ESPN2 ] pic.twitter.com/ZWyLYAME3r
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2024
Swanson was fighting with his hands low to start the second frame, and that prompted Quarantillo to respond. He bloodied the nose of Swanson with some clean punches and worked from inside the clinch with takedown attempts and a big knee. Swanson refused to go away and had some moments of his own late in the frame.
They resumed throwing big shots in the final round, then Swanson landed the vicious two-punch combination that ended the fight.
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 63 results include:
- Cub Swanson def. Billy Quarantillo via knockout (punch) – Round 3, 1:36
- Manel Kape def. Bruno Silva via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:57
- Dustin Jacoby def. Vitor Petrino via knockout (punch) – Round 3, 3:44
- Daniel Marcos def. Adrian Yanez via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
- Navajo Stirling def. Tuco Tokkos via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Michael Johnson def. Ottman Azaitar via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 2:03
- Joel Alvarez def. Drakkar Klose via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:48
- Sean Woodson def. Fernando Padilla via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:58
- Felipe Lima def. Miles Johns via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Miranda Maverick def. Jamey-Lyn Horth via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Davey Grant def. Ramon Taveras via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Piera Rodriguez def. Josefine Knutsson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 63.
