Cub Swanson caused quite a stir on social media when he tweeted to suggest that MMA media should have fighting experience, but the UFC and WEC veteran has revealed that he was somewhat taken aback by the response.
The perennial featherweight contender took to Twitter last month to offer the thought that MMA media should be required to have at least three amateur fights. His tweet sparked a massive debate, with fans, fighters and media all weighing in.
I think all MMA media should be required to have 3 amateur fights Thoughts?
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) February 12, 2021
Many people had fun with the idea, while others didn’t receive Swanson’s comments too well. But Swanson (27-11 MMA, 12-7 UFC) explained that he didn’t mean to offend anyone. He merely meant that if MMA media pulled on the gloves and stepped into the cage to compete, they’d have a greater appreciation and understanding of what the fighters go through.
“I really didn’t mean too much by it,” Swanson told MMA Junkie Radio. “It was more of a hypothetical, ‘Hey, wouldn’t it be nice if MMA media kinda understood where we were coming from a little bit more than just as a fan? But you could experience what we experience and you could possibly understand our process on a deeper level,’ and that was just wishful thinking.
“When I went back and read it I go, ‘Oh, that’s pretty direct, the way I said it,’ so I could see how it was taken that way. But I do appreciate the discussion that it brought, and I thought that was pretty cool to see both sides. There was some arguing, but there was a lot of discussion that was nice.”
Swanson went on to admit that fighters sometimes get upset at what the media may write about them, which makes it natural to think that people need to be in your shoes to understand what you go through. So Swanson explained that he was just throwing a hypothetical scenario out there that would help MMA media appreciate the fighters’ grind more.
“It did make me think both sides are kinda on the same boat,” Swanson said. “I was thinking about it. Me as a fighter, if you write a story and if it offends me somehow or just makes me feel a type of way, (it’s) because maybe you don’t understand what I was going through in this camp because this is my life. I’m doing this camp, living life and trying to perform and you guys get to write something about me.
“I think it goes both ways, where if you had to write something and a fighter is trying to attack you about it, I’m sure there’s many times where media was thinking the same thing like, ‘You guys don’t understand how our job works and some pressure we might be feeling. You don’t understand a deadline or that we have to ask this certain question.’ I think I chalked it up to it would be nice if both sides could really understand each other a little deeper.”
Back on a winning streak for the first time since 2017, Swanson will make his 20th walk to the octagon when he takes on streaking prospect Giga Chikadze at UFC Fight Night on May 1.