UFC fight of the month for December 2024: Cub Swanson's vintage display against Billy Quarantillo leading to epic third-round walkoff KO

The UFC fight of the month in December 2024 is undoubtedly Cub Swanson's featherweight war with Billy Quarantillo. The pair locked horns at UFC Tampa, where they sought to reverse their respective poor runs of fortune, as both men entered the octagon dogged by losses.

The first round saw a classic clash between forward pressure and backfoot counterpunching. Quarantillo wasted little time in seizing the initiative, doing his best to swarm Swanson. Forced toward the fence, the 44-fight veteran looked for openings for his counters and soon found one.

Check out the Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo face-off:

Swanson froze Quarantillo in place with a thunderous right hand, but his foe was quick to up the aggression, stunning the 41-year-old in return. Unfortunuately for him, pocket boxing exchanges with Swanson are often perilous, yet he remained undaunted by his opponent's power.

Quarantillo walked through Swanson's best before stunning him for a second time and securing a takedown. Round two saw more of the same, with neither man willing to give the other an inch. They met in the center of the octagon and traded. Despite Swanson having a power advantage, Quarantillo picked his shots better.

He blasted his seasoned foe with a seismic knee, rocking and backing Swanson up to the fence on quaking legs. However, instead of committing to more strikes, he scored a takedown. Aware that the fight may be slipping from his grasp, Swanson forced a standup and fought with more urgency.

He unloaded with a combination, but Quarantillo shot for another takedown, briefly pinning Swanson to the mat before a scramble broke out and both men ended the round swinging to behead the other.

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How did their UFC Tampa fight end?

As their thrilling UFC fight came to a close, Cub Swanson and Billy Quarantillo maintained a furious pace, battering each other from pillar to post. But as the clock ticked away, Quarantillo seemed to fade, while Swanson grew into the bout, using every inch of his veteran wiles.

Check out Cub Swanson's third-round knockout:

At the 1:36 mark of round three, Swanson blasted his foe with a two-punch combination, stunning him with a left hook before flatlining him with a right. Quarantillo crumbled to the mat like a deactivated robot, and Swanson turned away, roaring in victory with a signature walkoff knockout.

Thereafter, in elation, Swanson even considered retirement.