Billy Quarantillo sees Cub Swanson as the perfect dance partner to deliver a memorable fight.
Quarantillo (18-6 MMA, 6-4 UFC) meets Swanson (29-14 MMA, 14-10 UFC) in a featherweight bout Dec. 14 at UFC on ESPN 63 from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. Swanson was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame for his all-out war against Doo Ho Choi in December 2016, and Quarantillo hopes they can replicate that fight.
“When people ask me, ‘Are you excited for this fight?’ Yeah, I’m excited, but I know the type of violence he brings. I know the type of violence I bring,” Quarantillo told MMA Junkie Radio. “He’s in the Hall of Fame for – that’s how exciting he is. He had such an exciting fight that it put him in the Hall of Fame, and that’s the type of fights I want to have.
“I want to have that fight where after, people remember it for the rest of their lives. I definitely think we could get the bonus. We’re both coming off of losses, we both need a win, so that’s the most important thing. But I think with both of our styles, I don’t think there’s a way it’s going to be a boring fight.”
Swanson, 41, has seen mixed results in his past six outings, but Quarantillo isn’t taking that into account. He still views Swanson as a dangerous threat.
“I know how good he looked in his last two fights. He arguably won both of his last two fights against Andre Fili, against ‘Mean’ Hakeem,'” Quarantillo said. “Both two really good fighters. So there’s no point in me faking it. He knows what he got himself into fighting me. He probably only has a few fights left, so I’m sure he’s going to give it everything he has.
“I actually remember when he fought Kron Gracie in Tampa, he had a really good fight against him, and it’s just a huge opportunity for me. I’m excited. Leading up to the fight, I’m going to give him all the respect because he earned it. He’s literally a Hall of Fame fighter already, but when it comes to fight night, I’m going to do exactly what he’s going to do, and I’m going to try to put his lights out in front of everyone.”
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