Billy Quarantillo will be the hometown hero when he faces Cub Swanson at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on Saturday night. The Upstate New York native has been living in Tampa for 14 years and is just 15 minutes away from the venue.
Quarantillo, 36, has built a solid UFC career since joining the roster in 2019 with notable victories over Gabriel Benitez and Alexander Hernandez. However, his recent loss to Youssef Zalal has given him a reason to prove himself again.
“I’m giving it everything I got,” Quarantillo said. “I know he’s not taking me lightly because we don’t know how many fights we’ve got left in us. Every fighter wants to end their career with that storybook win, that highlight reel finish.”
Quarantillo’s opponent, Cub Swanson, is a UFC Hall of Famer who has been in top form despite his recent birthdays. Quarantillo expects a prime opponent hungry to get back in the win column.
“His last two fights were very close against really good guys,” Quarantillo said. “So not only am I expecting the best Cub we’ve seen, I know I feel the same way with us both getting older. We don’t want to end our careers with a loss.”
This fight marks one of the biggest of Quarantillo’s career, and he’s determined to redeem himself after his recent loss. With his passion for fighting and desire to put on a show for his hometown fans, Quarantillo is ready to give it everything he has.
The fight is part of UFC 311: Makhachev vs Tsarukyan 2, which will take place live from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on December 14, 2024. Prelims start at 7pm ET/4pm PT, while the main card kicks off on ESPN2 and ESPN+ at 10pm ET/7pm PT.
Source: https://www.ufc.com/news/billy-quarantillo-is-fighting-in-his-backyard-ufc-tampa-covington-vs-buckley