WEC vets Eric Koch vs. Cub Swanson targeted for UFC on Versus 3

http://mmajunkie.com/news/22037/wec-vets-eric-koch-vs-cub-swanson-targeted-for-ufc-on-versus-3.mma

by Steven Marrocco

Featherweights Eric Koch (11-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Cub Swanson (15-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) officially are UFC bound.

Sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the fighters have agreed to meet at UFC on Versus 3 and that bout agreements are being finalized.

The show, which represents the UFC's first-ever event in the Bluegrass State, takes place March 3 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.

The night's main card airs on Versus, though Koch vs. Swanson likely will be part of the preliminary card.

Koch scored a November TKO win over Francisco Rivera and earned WEC 52's "Knockout of the Night" honors for the effort. The 22-year-old Duke Roufus-trained fighter closed out his WEC career with a 4-1 mark, and the lone loss came via decision to contender Chad Mendes in early 2010. Despite the rangy fighter's quick hands, Koch has registered seven submission wins among his 11 career victories.

He now faces Swanson, one of his most experienced opponents to date. After an initial 2-1 stint in the WEC in 2007, Swanson returned in 2008 and went 3-2. The losses came to current champ Jose Aldo and Mendes, and the wins came over Hiroyuki Takaya, John Franchi and Mackens Semerzier. All three of the victories earned the Greg Jackson-trained fighter "Fight of the Night" bonuses.

The latest UFC on Versus 3 card now includes:
Martin Kampmann vs. Diego Sanchez
C.B. Dollaway vs. Mark Munoz
Maiquel Falcao vs. Alessio Sakara
Brian Bowles vs. Damacio Page
Shane Roller vs. Thiago Tavares
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Francisco Rivera
Alexandre Ferreira vs. Rousimar Palhares*
Eric Koch vs. Cub Swanson*
Cyrille Diabate vs. Steve Cantwell*
Matt Brown vs. Mark Scanlon*
* - Not officially announced

For more on UFC on Versus 3, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.