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Lobov: third UFC defeat (file photo).

Lobov goes the distance with Swanson, but loses decision in UFC Nashville main event

Swanson makes it four straight wins and targets featherweight title shot against Aldo or Holloway.

ARTEM LOBOV SUFFERED the third defeat of his UFC career, losing a unanimous decision to Cub Swanson in the main event of UFC Fight Night 108.

But the SBG fighter proved that he was able to mix it with one of the UFC’s top featherweights, taking Swanson the distance before going down 49-46, 49-46, 50-45 on the cards in Nashville.

“Thank you all for your support, I love you all!!!” Lobov tweeted afterwards.

“Congrats Cub Swanson, it was an honour to share the octagon with you!”

Lobov’s best chance of causing an upset against the man ranked sixth in the featherweight division was to draw him into a scrap.

And while ‘The Russian Hammer’ was able to do that, and edged the opening round, Swanson met Lobov’s pressure head on and his fourth straight victory never looked to be in any real doubt.

Lobov did well to survive in the second round when Swanson took his back and tried to sink in the finish, and the fight could have been waved off in the third when referee Herb Dean briefly stopped the action to check a deep gash that had opened up on Lobov’s left eye.

Lobov kept coming forward in the final two rounds without making any real impression, though his gutsy performance in defeat was enough to clinch the Fight of the Night bonus for the pair.

Afterwards, Swanson called for a shot against the winner of the UFC 212 main event which sees champion Jose Aldo defend his featherweight title against Max Holloway.

“That was a great fight. Proud of my brother Artem!” Lobov’s SBG training partner and world lightweight champion Conor McGregor said.

“What a ride it’s been for the Russian Hammer. In a career filled with ups and downs he has never backed down from anything. Nothing but love and respect always my brother.”

Elsewhere on the Nashville card, there were wins for Al Iaquinta, Ovince Saint Preux, John Dodson, Scotland’s Stevie Ray, and Mike Perry.

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UFC Fight Night 108 – Main Card results

  • Cub Swanson def Artem Lobov UD (49-46, 49-46, 50-45)
  • Al Iaquinta def Diego Sanchez KO (R1, 1:38)
  • Ovince Saint Preux def Marcos Rogerio de Lima SUB (R2, 2:11)
  • John Dodson def Eddie Wineland UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Stevie Ray def Joe Lauzon MD (28-27, 29-27, 28-28)
  • Mike Perry def Jake Ellenberger KO (R2, 1:05)

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