MMA Junkie’s Fight of the Month for December: Cub Swanson sets Fight of the Night record in potential career finale

Although it was largely one-way traffic, Joshua Van (12-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) and Cody Durden (17-7-1 MMA, 6-5-1 UFC) showed once again why the flyweights are beloved in a high output, bloody battle.

Van landed a remarkable 165 significant strikes over 15 minutes to win a unanimous decision, turning Durden’s face into pulp in the process. Durden hung tough, however, taking all the shots and never dropping from the first to final bell.

Movsar Evloev (19-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) remained undefeated after a high-paced grappling battle against former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (24-5 MMA, 16-5 UFC).

The UFC-ranked top 10 matchup was an anticipated bout, and it delivered with an exhausting pace of wrestling scrambles. After 15 minutes, Evloev maintained his unblemished record by winning a unanimous decision over Sterling to make his push toward a featherweight title shot.

Former training partners Shavkat Rakhmonov (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and Ian Machado Garry (15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) were well-acquainted as they entered their welterweight title eliminator. Each fought measured without much risk, which was perhaps a sign of the respect they had for each other.

It was a competitive and compelling affair for all five rounds, however. Machado Garry almost snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a late submission, but ultimately Rakhmonov was the one who left with an undefeated record – and title shot – in his favor by way of unanimous decision.

The Winner

Cub Swanson (30-14 MMA, 15-10 UFC) added what might be the final sensational highlight to his reel against a very game Billy Quarantillo (18-7 MMA, 6-5 UFC).

After a back-and-forth featherweight battle, Swanson found the fight-ending knockout punch on Quarantillo early in the third round of the Fight of the Night, and afterward the 41-year-old said it could be his final appearance in MMA competition.

With the $50,000 bonus, Swanson passed Max Holloway for first place all-time among 145-pound bonus and Fight of the Night recipients, which is one of many great accolades he will be able to gloat about after his fighting career.