UFC Tampa live blog: Cub Swanson vs. Kron Gracie

This is the UFC Fight Night: Jedrzejczyk vs. Waterson live blog for Cub Swanson vs. Kron Gracie, a featherweight bout at Saturday’s UFC event at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.

Swanson, who has lost four straight fights, faces Gracie, who is 5-0 in MMA, in the co-main event.

Check out the UFC Tampa live blog below.

Round 1: Gracie front-kicking at the legs and closing distance. Swanson striking backward, and he nails Gracie with a right before resetting. Swanson cracks the leg and keeps his jab going, not letting Gracie corner him. Nice body shot from Swanson, and a one-two. More jabs as Swanson circles. Right hook good for Swanson as Gracie marches forward. Big body kick from Swanson, and Gracie chases him. Swanson getting looser with his striking. Pot-shotting and ducking away when Gracie chases. Bodyshots from the MMA vet, and now Swanson is going upstairs. Gracie connects with his first combo of the night, and Swanson circles off again. Gracie is chasing again, firing off punches. Swanson cracks the body again, but Gracie is undeterred. Round ends with Gracie in pursuit.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 for Swanson.

Round 2: Gracie closes again and tries to engage, and Swanson won’t be cornered. He plants a left and peels off. Swanson firing to the body and legs and circling off. Jabs meet Gracie, who blows his nose and continues to press. He can’t get the clinch, and Swanson is beating the body. Finally, Gracie gets Swanson to the fence. It’s short lived, and Swanson peels off and plants with a right. Gracie suddenly jumps guard, and there’s nothing there. Swanson beats the body and resets again as Gracie grabs for the clinch. Swanson slips on a punch, and Gracie jumps guard again. He can’t hold the position, but he soon battles into the clinch. Swanson works punches on the inside, and Gracie covers up. More clinch action coming, and Swanson swinging big shots. He’s getting sloppier with his technique and Gracie appears to be getting to him a little bit. It’s a phonebooth fight, and both men are landing more shots. Gracie is continuing to press Swanson, who’s trying to counter effectively and not getting much space to do so. Cut is opened on Swanson’s right eye. He continues to duck and counter, and the round ends.

MMAFighting scores the second round 10-9 for Swanson, and it’s 20-18.

Round 3: Gracie walks forward again and gets cracked to the body and head. He continues to press with a jab and chase down Swanson. Gracie is continuing the work he did late in the second, and he’s forcing Swanson to make mistakes. They fight into the clinch, and Gracie jumps guard and fires an upkick that barely misses. Swanson pulls free, and they go back to fighting in close. Gracie fights into the clinch and hip tosses Swanson. It’s a short lived advantage, and Swanson gets back to his feet, where he starts to piece up Gracie. Another jump guard from Gracie, who’s walking down Swanson and taking lots of punishment to land his shots. Gracie is making this a closer fight, and no matter how much Swanson lands, Gracie continues to press and land his own punches. Swanson just swinging for the fences, then trading in close with Gracie. Gracie shoots in the open for a takedown, and he wraps Swanson in guard. Swanson keeps the body lock and fights off the guillotine, and Gracie pulls back for one last battle in the clinch. Big body shots and a final flurry from Swanson.

MMAFighting scores the round 10-9 for Swanson, who gets the 30-27 score.

Official result: Cub Swanson def. Kron Gracie via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)