Cub Swanson felt like he was ‘going to die’ due to Brian Ortega’s choke, unsure about UFC future

Cub Swanson came up short last night (Sat., Dec. 9, 2017) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 123 in Fresno, California to Brian Ortega, tapping out in the second round to an air-tight guillotine choke.

Afterward, Cub took to the post-fight presser to talk about the disappointing loss and his future with the promotion.

“Everything I wanted to execute I was doing,” Swanson told the media via Forbes. “I felt great. I messed up.”

After surviving an anaconda choke in the closing seconds of round one, Swanson didn’t have an answer to Ortega’s jiu-jitsu a few minutes later. In fact, the submission was so tight, Cub admits he had to tap as he simply felt death was around the corner.

“It was tight right away,” said Swanson. “He had a lock. I was fighting. I was kind of shaking him and I felt like he only had one hand and I grabbed his wrist and I felt okay. Then he readjusted and I felt his legs get a little higher on my back and then it crushed my head and my neck just flared up and I panicked. I felt like I was going to die,” revealed the longtime veteran.

As for what’s next for Cub, he will keep chugging along, but the question as to where he will fight next still remains. That’s because Cub failed to sign a contract extension with UFC, opting to test the free agent waters prior to taking part in his last fight against Brian.

UFC president Dana White stated he’d love nothing more than to have Cub keep fighting for him and that negotiations would ramp up soon. Whether or not the previous deal is still on the table, remains to be seen.

‘Let’s make a deal right now,’ but do I crawl back and say, ‘I’ll take that deal that you offered me that I said no to,’ we’ll see,” said Swanson. “I’m going to enjoy family over Christmas and all that and try not to be in low spirits because I felt I fought great, I just didn’t get the ending I wanted to,” he concluded.

For complete UFC Fight Night 123 results and coverage click here.