Cub Swanson Returns Against Daniel Pineda at UFC 256 on Dec. 12

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December 12 , We keep climbing! @ufc #ufc256 4 weeks out #4ozFightClub #HoustonMMA #fight #fightofthecentury #fightofthenight #bonuses #moneyfight #TexasMade #KillOrBeKilled #TimeToDie #vegas #ufc @jasonkhouse @iridiumsportsagency @jacobparga @4ozfightclub

A post shared by Daniel Pineda (@danielpitpineda) on Nov 11, 2020 at 7:18pm PST

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A Ultimate Fighting Championship fan-favorite is setting foot in the cage before the end of the year.

On Wednesday night, Daniel Pineda (27-13, 2 NC) posted on his Instagram announcing that he would be taking on Cub Swanson (26-11) at UFC 256. Shortly thereafter, Swanson also posted to his social media that he would be meeting Pineda. The two featherweights will square off at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Dec. 12, and it is unclear if they will fight on the main card or preliminaries.

Swanson last competed in October 2019, where he snapped a four-fight skid after a victorious thrilling brawl with Kron Gracie. Swanson then competed at the Quintet Ultra event in December, and he tore his ACL and meniscus against Jake Shields to keep him out of action for nearly a year. Once known as a finisher, the California native has not stopped a foe since he knocked out Dennis Siver in 2013. His last six wins have all come by decision.

Pineda returned to the UFC in triumphant fashion in August, when he became the first fighter to finish Herbert Burns, doing so with a barrage of brutal elbow strikes. Pineda’s leadup to getting re-signed to the promotion was a tumultuous one, as he battered Movlid Khaybulaev and Jeremy Kennedy in the Professional Fighters League only to failed a drug test and lose by triumphs. This stint inside the Octagon is Pineda’s second, as he competed seven times in the UFC from 2012 to 2014, losing four of those to eventually be oustered. Pineda bounced around Bellator MMA, PFL, Legacy Fighting Championship and Fury Fighting Championship before returning to the UFC this year. All 27 career wins for “The Pit” have come by stoppage.

UFC 256 goes down on Dec. 12 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, where it will be capped off by a bantamweight title tilt as Petr Yan takes on Aljamain Sterling. Also on the main card is a middleweight bout between Marvin Vettori and Ronaldo Souza, while Mackenzie Dern locks horns with Virna Jandiroba at women’s strawweight.