Complete UFC Vegas 62 Co-Main Event Breakdown

The UFC’s Oct. 1 event at the Apex was marred by controversy when rumors circulated that social media maven Mark Zuckerberg rented out the arena for himself, a claim later disproven. White said that Zuckerberg, his wife, and some of his friends were invited guests of the promotion to the show, closed to the press.

This time around, UFC Vegas 62 will be open to the traditional maximum capacity of 300 spectators.

Co-Main Event Odds and Details

All told, UFC Vegas 62 (main card Saturday, 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT, ESPN+ after the undercard at 4 pm ET/ 1 pm PT) will feature a 12-fight card. Before Alexa Grasso and Viviane Araujo take to the cage in a women’s flyweight fixture in the UFC Vegas 62 main event, bantamweight action will take place in the UFC Vegas 62 co-main event.

Cub Swanson (28-12 MMA, 13-8 UFC) will meet up with Jonathan Martinez (16-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) on Saturday night in the UFC Vegas 62 co-main event. This will be a three-round fight at five minutes per round. Oddsmakers have Jonathan Martinez as a -180 favorite for the UFC Vegas 62 main event on Saturday, with Cub Swanson as a +155 underdog.

UFC Vegas 62 Co-Main Event Fighter Comparison

Heading into the UFC Vegas 62 co-main event on Saturday evening, both Cub Swanson and Jonathan Martinez stand level in height at 5-foot-8.

While it’s a dead heat in height and in reach (70 inches apiece) between these two, Cub Swanson owns a half-inch leg reach advantage (38 inches even to 37 1/2 inches) over Jonathan Martinez ahead of this fixture.

Cub Swanson to Make First Appearance at Featherweight on Saturday in UFC Vegas 62 Co-Main Event

Cub Swanson comes into Saturday’s co-main event having posted a record of 3-2 in his last five UFC bouts, including a first-round knockout due to punches followed by a wheel kick right before Christmas on Dec. 18 versus Darren Elkins (27-10 MMA, 18-9 UFC) in UFC Vegas 45 at the Apex, a contest at featherweight. Saturday’s fight will be his first at 135 lbs.

Upon announcing this fight on social media, Cub Swanson announced he’d be moving to the bantamweight ranks.

“After 15 years in the Featherweight division, I’ve decided to take my talents to 135 lbs.,” he wrote, adding a fire emoji. “Why? I simply needed a new challenge in my life. October 15th, I’ll be facing Jonathan Ramirez in my Bantamweight debut.”

This Saturday on @ESPNPlus
I make my 135 lbs debut!!! 🔥 #ufcVegas62 pic.twitter.com/YE1ZkBRKJP

— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) October 12, 2022

Swanson Inducted into UFC Hall of Fame This Past Summer

Even though he’s been out of the cage for approximately 10 months, Swanson still made headlines between fights. On June 30, during the 2022 UFC Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony in Las Vegas for International Fight Week, he, along with Doo-Ho Choi, were inducted into the hall’s Fight Wing for their contest at UFC 206 on Dec. 10, 2016.

While walking the red carpet that evening, Swanson was interviewed by Cageside Press, saying that his induction was years in the making.

“It’s tough because I felt like I deserved the respect a long time ago because of my performances,” Swanson said. “But just because of the ups and the downs of the sport, the setbacks, people go ‘Oh, he’s not what we thought he was.’ I can’t tell you how many people, they’ve been the next big thing, and those people have come and fought for a title and then retired, and I’m still here. And then one day, people are calling me a legend and people are giving me the respect, and I’m like, ‘Man, thank you, I appreciate that.'”

Cub Swanson has been in MMA since July of 2004 and has gotten a well-deserved spot in the UFC Hall of Fame, but can he turn in another hall of fame performance in the UFC Vegas 62 main event? Tune in and find out.

Jonathan Martinez Promises Rude Awakening For Cub Swanson At Bantamweight

In the other corner, Jonathan Martinez has gone 4-1 in his last five fights. He enters the UFC Vegas 62 main event on a three-fight winning streak, extended last time out by way of unanimous decision against Vince Morales (11-6 MMA, 3-4 UFC) on May 21 in UFC Vegas 55.

The 28-year-old Martinez was recently interviewed by MMASucka, where he recalled watching Swanson’s fights in the late World Extreme Cagefighting on television.

“I’m really excited to get the opportunity to go against him and welcome him to the 135 division, so its pretty big, you know?”, Martinez said. “I’m a big fan, so it should be good. I never really thought that I was going to fight him. His name came up and I said ‘yes’ right away. I’m super excited to go in the cage with him.”

Jonathan Martinez’ admiration for Cub Swanson will be put aside in the UFC Vegas 62 co-main event on Saturday night. Can he defeat the fighter he grew up watching?

As the broadcast team was talking about needing to take risks Jonathan Martinez send a devastating knee up the middle that shut Pingyuan Liu’s lights out. #UFCSacramento pic.twitter.com/ftwGocfj9e

— MMA mania (@mmamania) July 13, 2019

Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction

Stylistically, the UFC Vegas 62 co-main event looks to favor Cub Swanson, a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, with Jonathan Martinez countering with a blue belt in BJJ. Another factor is the difference in age between the two men. Swanson, age 38, is 10 years Martinez’ senior.

Cub Swanson Can Make Short Work of an Opponent

Cub Swanson has been known to make his nights at the office quick ones throughout his MMA career. 10 years ago, he proved it when he faced off against Charles Oliveira during UFC 152.

Although the fight was scheduled for three rounds at five minutes per round, Swanson only needed half of one round to close the deal. Swanson began by getting taken down by Oliveira and looked to be in trouble with a submission attempt before getting back to his feet.

From there, it became a stand-up fight, with Swanson landing body shots, including a left hook that wobbled Oliveira, before cracking him with a haymaker to the face that sent him down for good.

If Cub Swanson can land the body shots with regularity in the UFC Vegas 62 co-main event, it could be another short night for him.

Jonathan Martinez Is Vicious With Knees

In the other corner, watch out for the knee strikes of Jonathan Martinez. Frankie Saenz was on the receiving end of those knees during UFC Vegas 5 in August of 2020.

During the third and final round of the featured undercard bout, Martinez, who had already pieced Saenz up with damaging kicks throughout the first two periods, went to the well again, despite an illegal groin strike (the ninth of the evening to that point,) with more kicks, including one to the head.

It was only a matter of time before he hit the jackpot, doing so with a well-timed knee right up against the cage fence. Although Martinez landed some ground and pound, the damage was already done, with the referee calling the fight inside a minute.

If Martinez’ kicking game is on-point during the UFC Vegas 62 co-main event, look out. Cub Swanson might be in deep trouble.

Final Thoughts

At the core, Saturday’s co-main event is a battle of age versus experience, meaning that there’s only one final question:

Which will win out?

Prediction: Cub Swanson by Unanimous Decision.