Swanson reignites beef with Buckley ahead of UFC Tampa

Cub Swanson has resurrected his beef with Joaquin Buckley ahead of UFC Tampa, despite the pair taking on different opponents on Saturday night.

Swanson fights Billy Quarantillo in the co-main event of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night, while Buckley squares off against Colby Covington in the headliner.

But media day in Tampa had Swanson laying into Buckley, not Quarantillo, with the veteran reigniting a feud between the two from earlier in the year.

“I stand by what I said,” he said.

“I don’t think the younger guys should be disrespecting the older guys.

“That’s just what I think.

“I think that the people that paved the way always deserve some respect.”

Swanson’s comments refer to a rant by Buckley in May 2024, where the welterweight claimed he could knockout a prime George St-Pierre.

When Swanson said “better men have tried and couldn’t do it”, Buckley directed his outburst at Swanson, saying he “ain’t never smelled the title” and calling him a plethora of expletives.

“I’m sure I will run into him, and I’m not going to back down from what I said,” Swanson continued.

“I was a fan of his until he opened his mouth a little bit.

“I’ve got no ill will towards him, but like I said, I think people need to show respect.

“[I would like] an apology for calling me a ‘ho’, because that’s one thing I’m not.

“I’ve stayed true to myself, I’ve stayed true to who I am my entire career, so the name-calling was just a little over the line.”

Whether their beef is settled at UFC Tampa or not, Buckley is a strong chance of improving his credentials in the division on Saturday.

The American is at -277.78 across UFC betting sites to defeat Covington.

Swanson, on the other hand, is a +130 underdog at Bovada to prevail against Quarantillo.

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