UFC Fight Night 44: Jeremy Stephens may knock people out, but Cub Swanson has beaten better opponents

Jeremy Stephens believes he will have a power advantage over Cub Swanson when the two talented featherweights collide in the main event of this weekend's (Sat., June 28, 2014) UFC Fight Night 44 event in San Antonio, Texas, saying that his punching power is far superior than that of Cub's.

While Swanson won't dispute "Lil' Heathen's" ability to put people to sleep, he will dispute the quality of opponents he's done it to. As far as Cub is concerned, whether it was via knockout or technical knockout (TKO), a win is a win, and he's TKO'd and defeated far better opponents than Stephens has.

Furthermore, Swanson tells Sherdog that trying to connect cleanly will be half the battle for Stephens come fight night.

"I think when he does knock people out, he's right, he hits hard. There is no arguing that. But I'm not that easy to hit. If we want to compare knockouts, whether I TKO people or knock them out, a win is a win and I think I've done it to better opponents."

In comparison, Cub's last four victories have come against Dennis Siver, Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira and Ross Pearson. Stephens last four wins, meanwhile, are over Darren Elkins, Rony Jason, Estavan Payan and Danny Downes.

Advantage, Swanson.

Stats and punching power aside, the two men will duke it out in "The Lone Star State" to figure out who has the best overall mixed martial arts (MMA) arsenal when pitted against each other.

In the process, they might also figure out who gets the next crack at the 145-pound title.