UFC Matchmaking Bulletin (6/26-7/2): Cub Swanson Returns To Featherweight, Three Cancellations
MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring fights for Cub Swanson and Jake Matthews.
With UFC cards being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.
In recent days, a couple of big-name fights were reported, confirmed, or made official by the UFC and reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, check out the links below:
Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Kelvin Gastelum – UFC Las Vegas (September 16)Tracy Cortez vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius – UFC Las Vegas (September 16)
It was a busy week overall for fight announcements, with a number of lower-profile matchups coming together. For some of those, check out this week’s quick hits:
Tatsuro Taira vs. Edgar Cháirez – UFC 290 (July 8)Jafel Filho vs. Daniel Barez – UFC London (July 22)Juliana Miller vs. Luana Santos – UFC Vegas 78 (August 12)
But it wasn’t all positive, with some fights falling through or being adjusted in recent days. For those failed pairings and any confirmed replacements, see the list below:
Sean Brady (OUT) vs. Jack Della Maddalena – UFC 290 (July 8)Gaston Bolaños (OUT, JP Buys IN) vs. Marcus McGhee – UFC Vegas 78 (August 12)Henry Cejudo (OUT) vs. Marlon Vera – UFC 292 (August 19)
And for more detailed information on two notable fights that may have flown under your radar between June 26 and July 2, scroll down and check out this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin.
Jake Matthews vs. Miguel Baeza – UFC 291 (July 29)
Welterweight prospects Jake Matthews and Miguel Baeza are headed to Salt Lake City for the UFC 291 pay-per-view later this month.
After over a year away from action following a submission loss to Sean Brady, Matthews (18-6) brought hype back to his name with a seemingly evolved striking display en route to a knockout of André Fialho at UFC 275 last June. But at UFC Vegas 66 six months later, the 28-year-old Australian failed to make it back-to-back wins courtesy of Matthew Semelsberger’s efforts.
If Matthews is to avoid his first losing skid since 2016, he’ll have to add to the woes of Baeza (10-3). “Caramel Thunder” was highly touted after consecutive finishes of Hector Aldana, Matt Brown, and Takashi Sato left him undefeated in the UFC and as a professional. Since then, however, the 30-year-old Florida native has lost three in a row. After being outpointed by Santiago Ponzinibbio, Baeza suffered knockouts to Khaos Williams and Fialho.
This welterweight matchup was announced by the promotion.
Jake Matthews will fight Miguel Baeza at #UFC291 on July 29th. #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN #UFC2023 #UFCSaltLakeCity pic.twitter.com/d1f3tEUURt
— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) June 30, 2023
Cub Swanson vs. Hakeem Dawodu – UFC Vegas 78 (August 12)
A fan-favorite veteran will return to his usual weight class at UFC Vegas 78 on August 12.
Cub Swanson (28-13), who boasts a place in the UFC Hall Of Fame Fight Wing, delivered a Performance of the Night-worthy TKO of Darren Elkins in his last appearance at featherweight in 2021. In his sole outing of 2022, “Killer” made an unsuccessful drop to bantamweight, where Jonathan Martinez stopped him with leg kicks in the second round at UFC Vegas 62.
Now, for what will be his 23rd walk to the Octagon, Swanson will return to 145 pounds to face the challenge of Hakeem Dawodu (13-3-1). The Canadian hasn’t competed since last September at UFC 279, where Julian Erosa stalled his rise up the featherweight ladder. Having missed out on a return on home soil last month at UFC 289, “Mean” will look to bounce back at the expense of Swanson inside the Apex on August 12.
This featherweight fight was announced by the promotion.
Mean Hakeem is BACK 😤🇨🇦@MeanHakeemKO will take on Cub Swanson August 12th! pic.twitter.com/b33NFJOU3z
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) June 28, 2023
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