Get to know Dana White’s Contender Series fighter Daniel Swain

Las Vegas – Get to know Dana White’s Contender Series fighter Daniel Swain.

Dana White’s Contender Series continues with Episode 2 which features a lineup of rising athletes looking to make their dreams come true by impressing UFC President Dana White and earning a spot on the UFC roster. The second episode of season four takes place on Tuesday, August 11 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, with all five bouts streaming exclusively on ESPN+ in the US.

NAME: Daniel Swain
NICKNAME: None
WEIGHT CLASS: Featherweight
AGE: 29 years old – 1/30/91
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5-9, 145
REACH: 70”
LEG REACH: 39”
STANCE: Orthodox
BIRTHPLACE: Newport, WA
FIGHTING OUT OF: Spokane, WA
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English
STYLE: Freestyle
TRAINER: Pablo Alfonzo, Joel Thomas, Richie Whitson
STRENGTHS: Grappling, wrestling
TRAINING: Cardio in the mornings: run/mountain biking. Mitt work and grappling in the
evening and MMA drills and sparring at night.
PROFESSIONAL MMA RECORD: 20-9-1

Q&A

Thoughts on opponent, TJ Laramie? He is a tough kid with decent power.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started wrestling at four years old and fell in love with MMA when I was 13. I started training when I was out of college.

What ranks and titles have you held? BJJ black belt, NCWA National wrestling champion 2011, Cagesport FW Champion, LOTC FW Champion.

Do you have any heroes? Matt Hughes was my hero from the beginning.

What would it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It’s been my dream since I was 13, and the goal I’ve been working on for a decade. It would mean hard work and persistence pay off.

What was your job before you started fighting? Lots of different jobs throughout my fighting career.

Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? 7-0 in 12 weeks.

Favorite grappling technique: Armbar

Favorite Striking technique: left hook

Twitter account name: @danielswainmma

Facebook account: @DanielSwainmma

Instagram account: @swain_mma

OTHER KEY POINTS:

• Pro since 2010
• Five wins by KO, 12 by submission (Guillotine, 3 triangle, kneebar, 3 armbar, 4 RNC)
• 14 first round finishes
• Has won four of his last five
• Holds 2011 win over UFC vet Sam Sicilia
• Lost 2016 bout to UFC vet Julian Erosa

Q&A Courtesy of the UFC

Roberto Villa

Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.