Preview: UFC Fight Night 212 ‘Grasso vs. Araujo’

Bantamweights

Cub Swanson (28-12) vs. Jonathan Martinez (16-4)

ODDS: Martinez (-205), Swanson (+175)

Weeks shy of his 39th birthday, Cub Swanson makes an interesting move in this cut down to bantamweight. Swanson was a perennial contender at 145 pounds since coming over to the UFC in 2012, though his charges up the ranks always fell short of an actual title shot; a six-fight winning streak was snapped by losses to Max Holloway and Frankie Edgar back circa 2014, and a subsequent four-fight winning streak gave way to four straight losses from 2017 to 2019. But even during that rough run, Swanson was continually a tough out against top competition, so it wasn't a surprise when he finally found his level in this late-career run, winning three of his last four. And two of those wins have been in impressive fashion, as Swanson has had two of the most crackling finishes of his career in his 2020 knockout of Daniel Pineda and December stoppage of Darren Elkins. Given how sharp Swanson looked in the Elkins win, his career didn't seem in particular need of a change-up at this point; but nevertheless, Swanson drops down to 135 pounds here to take on Jonathan Martinez. Martinez has yet to have a true breakout performance - which he could get here - but he's been quietly successful over his ten-fight UFC career, winning seven of those bouts including his current three-fight winning streak. Martinez can hold his own about anywhere, but it does feel like "Dragon" sometimes brings things down to a slow pace with his willingness to peck at his opponent from range, particularly with him generally focusing less on his wrestling and grappling in recent years. Martinez's kicking game can be a problem for Swanson - who's at his best when someone looks to trade on his own terms - but given that Martinez is prone to defensive lapses and that Swanson is willing to double down on aggression when needed, the bet is that this can be a successful bantamweight debut for the longtime featherweight veteran. This could all go sideways if the weight cut saps Swanson of some speed or power, but the pick is Swanson via second-round knockout.

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Grasso vs. Araujo
Swanson vs. Martinez
Askarov vs. Royval
Wright vs. Todorovic
Cirkunov vs. Menifield
The Prelims