The last time the UFC had an event in Tampa was more than five years ago. One of the fighters who took part in that event was Cub Swanson, who beat Kron Gracie. Can he do the same thing again, this time against Billy Quarantillo?
Judging by the Swanson vs. Quarantillo odds, the answer is no. The Tampa-based fighter who’s a member of team Gracie Tampa South (owned by the Gracie family) is expected to win on December 14. However, Swanson’s odds aren’t extremely long, suggesting that he does stand a chance of winning.
| Moneyline | Odds |
|---|---|
| Cub Swanson | +133 |
| Billy Quarantillo | -155 |
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When, Where, and How to Watch?
- Place: Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida
- Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024
- Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: ESPN
Can Cub Swanson Prove Oddsmakers Wrong?
Cub Swanson is a 41-year-old UFC veteran who’s been fighting professionally since 2004. Despite being in the fighting business for more than two decades, he’s got no intention of retiring. In fact, a few weeks ago, he announced that he’d renewed his contract with the UFC.
He’s 29-14 overall, with two losses in his last three fights. The first of those was a TKO loss to Jonathan Martinez on Swanson’s bantamweight debut. The defeat prompted him to go back to the featherweight division where, upon his return, he beat Hakeem Dawodu by unanimous decision.
Then, in June 2024, we saw him lose to Andre Fili. It was a very close fight that ended with Fili winning by a split decision. Swanson’s striking looked good in that fight, but he lost because he suffered two takedowns. Will Quarantillo employ the same tactic to beat him at UFC Tampa?
Reasons Why Billy Quarantillo Is the Betting Favorite
Not only is he five years younger than Swanson, but Billy Quarantillo has several other advantages over him. First of all, the fight will take place in Tampa, which is where he’s been residing. What this means is that the crowd at Amalie Arena will almost certainly be rooting for him.
Secondly, he seems to be exactly the kind of fighter Swanson doesn’t do well against. Quarantillo is an aggressive fighter who likes to attack, aiming for a finish.
He’s a hell of a striker who lands 7.36 significant strikes a minute, which is the highest number in the UFC Featherweight Division. He’s also a prolific wrestler who lands 1.24 takedowns per 15 minutes on average.
Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo Prediction
Billy Quarantillo is favored for a reason. We think he’s a better fighter than Cub Swanson, and on top of that, he’s fighting on his turf. This will probably be a very exciting fight from the very first moment, and we can see it go the distance.
Pick: Billy Quarantillo
