UFC 152 ‘Jones vs. Belfort’ Preview

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Featherweights

Cub Swanson (17-5, 2-1 UFC) vs. Charles “do Bronx” Oliveira (16-2, 4-2 UFC)

The Matchup: The fact that this matchup is leading off the pay-per-view portion of UFC 152 speaks to the overall depth of the card, as both Swanson and Oliveira are perhaps just a win or two away from making serious noise in the 145-pound division.

With a laundry list of injuries seemingly in his rearview mirror, Swanson has posted back-to-back impressive victories in 2012, scoring technical knockout triumphs over George Roop in January and Ross Pearson in June. Swanson has long been known for his flashy attacks, but his boxing has carried him in recent outings. The WEC veteran dropped Roop with a powerful overhand right at UFC on Fox 2, and superior speed and movement allowed him to consistently counter Pearson effectively before he landed a decisive left hook in their UFC on FX 4 encounter. In addition to his camps at Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts, Swanson has trained with the likes of boxer Timothy Bradley -- the man who recently earned a controversial win over Manny Pacquiao -- in his native California, and the work seems to be paying dividends.

He will have to be as technical as possible against Oliveira, because the Brazilian will not be fazed by Swanson’s overall athleticism. “Do Bronx” is plenty fast and explosive himself, and he looks to have found a permanent home at featherweight after consecutive wins over Eric Wisely and Jonathan Brookins. What is scary is that, at just 22 years old, Oliveira still has plenty of room for growth. The Macaco Gold Team product is not afraid to let his hands go because, should he be taken down, he is supremely confident in his submission game. However, Oliveira is becoming more patient overall; when he floored Brookins with a right cross at “The Ultimate Fighter 15” Finale, he remained committed to his boxing and leg kicks instead of trying to force the issue.

This will be an action-packed duel no matter the location. On the feet, Swanson will showcase various spinning and high kicks to go with his punches, while Oliveira likes to explode for flying knees. Swanson is more susceptible to takedowns, but he compensates with an active guard and ability to create scrambles from his back. Of course, such activity could prove dangerous against Oliveira, who averages nearly four submission attempts per 15 minutes, according to FightMetric.com. The Sao Paulo, Brazil, native excels at making his opponent uncomfortable with elbows and punches from above, then transitioning to various fight-ending holds once his foe attempts to escape. Swanson will be best served to keep the bout upright as long as he possibly can.

The Pick: In recent years, Swanson has only lost to top-flight competition like Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes and Ricardo Lamas. This will be a good test for Oliveira to see if he is ready to take his career to the next level. However, he has not faced someone this skilled in all areas since a loss to Donald Cerrone in 2011. A smart and tactical Swanson wins via third-round technical knockout.

Last Fights » The Prelims