UFC featherweight title contender Cub Swanson believes he’s the man to dethrone 145-pound champ Jose Aldo, even though he suffered a devastating loss to “Scarface” back in June 2009.

Swanson told ESPN why the shortcoming still bothers him:

“I went to the hospital that night to get my face stitched up and all I could think about was, 'I owe the fans a fight.' That could have been a legendary fight in the WEC, and I didn’t approach it right.”

As Swanson admits, the WEC title fight was anything but legendary, as Swanson was brutally knocked out just eight seconds into the contest as he was dropped to the canvas immediately with a rarely-seen double flying knee.

A few punches on the ground immediately sealed the title challenger’s fate.

In his defense, Swanson’s career has turned around since joining Greg Jackson’s MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The California native is currently riding a four-fight win streak, including three knockouts, earning him the number 5 spot in the UFC’s official featherweight rankings.

A win over Dennis Siver at UFC 162 would arguably make Swanson a frontrunner for the next crack at the featherweight strap.

However, he will have to sit back and wait in the wings and Aldo fights fan favorite Chan Sung-Jung in the main event of UFC 163 this August.

Regardless what happens there, Swanson truly believes he has evolved to the point where he can take out the Brazilian pound-for-pound great.

“I think I do pose the biggest threat to Aldo,” he said. “I feel like my boxing is better than his. He’s a kick boxer, with devastating kicks. Neither one of us cares to take it to the ground.”

“I feel with my unpredictability and my boxing, I pose a big threat to him.”

Are fans interested in seeing Swanson vs. Aldo II or is the lopsided nature of their first fight still too fresh in most peoples’ memories?