Issue 060
March 2010
Featherweight WEC fighter Cub Swanson likes to listen to music when he trains but never knows what he’s going to listen to next, thanks to training partner Joe Stevenson.
Is there any type of music you like to listen to when you’re training?
I mostly like hip hop for when I’m running and doing my training alone, and I like to mix it up with some dance music when I’m sparring, for good rhythm.
What kind of dance music?
Stuff that Joe Stevenson got me into, house music that you’d hear out here in the clubs in Vegas. Kind of, like, up-tempo bass that really gets the sparring at a good pace.
When you’re chilling or hanging out, what do you like to listen to?
I really like Lil’ Wayne. Kanye West – I don’t like him personally, he’s a little strange, but I like his music. But Lil’ Wayne is definitely my favorite.
Do you have a specific walkout song you like to come out to?
No, I like to mix it up, I feel like it’s all about the mood.
So, training for your last fight did you have a specific walkout in mind, or were you listening to one song throughout the camp?
Not particularly. I wanted to walk out to Ice Cube, ‘Check Yo Self’, that song was in my head, kind of set the mood.
How do you figure out your walkout song?
Usually I’ll just hear it and it’ll be ‘boom’, that’s it. Sometimes I’ll be in a car on the way back from training and it’ll be, ‘That’s it! That’s perfect.’
Is it meant to inspire you, inspire the crowd or get into your opponent’s head?
All of the above. It depends where I’m fighting. If I think they won’t like me I’ve definitely got to pump up the crowd. It’s got to be something that keeps me in the mental state I want to be in, whether hardcore to get me pumped up or something mellow to keep me calm, and definitely to intimidate my opponent.
Tell me about your iPod.
I had the tiny little shuffle iPod and I left it in Joe Stevenson’s car, and he was supposed to bring it to me but I guess he lost it so he gave me this one (gold 8GB iPod Nano) along with all his music. I probably have to shuffle around a bit to get to a song I can listen to. He’s got some interesting stuff on here!
THE SHUFFLE CHALLENGE
Hit shuffle on your iPod and name the first five songs that come up. No cheating!
1. DMX, Lord Give Me A Sign
That’s a good song to run to.
2. Santana, Maria Maria
[Laughs] I might run to that, depending on what mood I’m in. Not one I’d listen to every day. I do like Santana though.
3. Brad Paisley, The World
I don’t even know what that song is. [It’s a country song; it’s not very good.] I hate country music. It bums me out.
4. Billy Idol, Dancing With Myself
It’s his greatest hits. Would I dance to that? No I wouldn’t. But I’m sure Joe would play this while we’re cutting weight together in the sauna.
5. Santana with Lauryn Hill and Cee-Lo,
Do You Like The Way
I don’t know if anyone remembers Cee-Lo. He’s the lead singer for Gnarls Barkley, a real good artist. I like that song a lot. That’s a cruising on the way back from training song.
