Frankie Edgar dominated and finished Cub Swanson. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Frankie Edgar took the rightful No. 1 contender in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s featherweight division and tore him to shreds.
According to preliminary FightMetric figures, Edgar executed seven takedowns, passed the guard of a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt 16 times and out-landed Swanson by a 259-62 margin in total strikes, 93-31 in significant strikes. There can be no clearer representation of utter domination. Edgar was brilliant in rounds three and four, where he connected on 66 percent of the strikes he threw. The finish was merely icing on the cake.
In wake of UFC Fight Night “Edgar vs. Swanson,” here are six matchups that ought to be considered:
Related: Video Highlights -- Edgar vs. Swanson
Frankie Edgar vs. Jose Aldo: Yes, Conor McGregor appears to be next in line to challenge Aldo for featherweight gold, provided the Irishman can get through Dennis Siver in January. However, Edgar’s near-flawless performance against Swanson and superior resume gives him a legitimate claim to a second crack at the longtime 145-pound champion. Aldo walked away from their February 2013 encounter with a unanimous decision, but Edgar actually out-landed the champion in the third, fourth and fifth frames. Aldo has made three successful title defenses since, with wins over Chad Mendes, Ricardo Lamas and Chan Sung Jung.
Cub Swanson vs. Dennis Bermudez: With thoughts of a title shot out the window for now, Swanson must return to circulation in what has become an increasingly deep division. The 31-year-old entered his five-round encounter with Edgar on a six-fight winning streak and left it knowing he had been soundly beaten by a better man. Swanson faces limited options in the immediate future, as he has already fought many of the other top contenders at 145 pounds: Past opponents include Mendes, Lamas, Dustin Poirier and Jeremy Stephens. Bermudez last fought at UFC 180 on Nov. 15, when he was victimized by a Lamas guillotine choke and saw his run of seven straight wins grind to a stop.
Edson Barboza vs. Jorge Masvidal: Barboza reminded everyone of his vast potential by taking a unanimous decision from Bobby Green in the co-main event. The 28-year-old former Ring of Combat champion frustrated Green with his lateral movement, all while racking up points with power punching combinations and kicks to the head, legs and body. Though his chin remains a concern, Barboza is an elite talent at 155 pounds and now holds an excellent 9-2 record inside the Octagon. Masvidal, with his experience and well-rounded skills, would serve as another stern test if he can get past Norman Parke in their UFC Fight Night clash on Jan. 18.
Chico Camus vs. Wilson Reis: Camus announced his arrival in the flyweight division with a split verdict over American Top Team’s Brad Pickett. The Roufusport product utilized his hand speed against the determined Brit and became increasingly difficult to take down as the fight moved into the second and third rounds. Camus, 29, provides the 125-pound weight class with some much-needed depth and could advance quickly with a few more wins. A former EliteXC champion, Reis delivered his second straight victory at UFC 179 in October, when he submitted Scott Jorgensen with a first-round arm-triangle choke.
Alexey Oleinik vs. Ben Rothwell: Known for his submission prowess, Oleinik let his hands to the talking against three-time NCAA All-American wrestler Jared Rosholt. The 37-year-old Russian felled Rosholt with a winging left hook and then knocked him unconscious with a pair of vicious hammerfists in the first round of their heavyweight showcase. Oleinik has finished 11 consecutive opponents, eight of them inside one round. Rothwell delivered the most significant win of his career in September, when he wiped out former Dream and Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem with first-round punches.
Joseph Benavidez vs. John Dodson: Stuck behind flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson, a man to whom he has lost twice, Benavidez remains without a clear direction at 125 pounds. The Team Alpha Male ace outdueled a game but overmatched Dustin Ortiz to win for the ninth time in 11 appearances, but there appears to be little hope in his receiving another rematch with Johnson anytime soon. Dodson figures to return from reconstructive knee surgery sometime in the first half of 2015.