Juan Archuleta: Cub Swanson's Protege Chasing History
Juan Archuleta: Cub Swanson's Protege Chasing History
When you are the protege of UFC star and perennial featherweight contender Cub Swanson, there is no shortage of knowledge to be learned. "Cub and I have gro
When you are the protege of UFC star and perennial featherweight contender Cub Swanson, there is no shortage of knowledge to be learned.
"Cub and I have grown so close; we talk about everything now," up-and-coming MMA talent Juan Archuleta said. "He's really helped me a lot in the sense of not only teaching me about the technical aspects of fighting, but the business side as well. To have someone who has been there and done everything is incredible. He's molding me into a smart businessman who can navigate a career wisely."
In addition to the training partnership that bloomed into a friendship, Swanson has also helped guide Archuleta through his journey in MMA. And when it comes to the business side--and the slippery slopes that await promising fighters--Swanson has been especially influential.
"I've gone back and forth with a lot of promotions over the past few years because I stick up for myself," Swanson said. "I don't let them walk all over me or treat me unfairly. I'm a talented guy and believe I should be paid as such. Or at the very least have some sort of negotiation rights. King of the Cage treated me right and they are willing to work with me."
The former Purdue wrestling standout will jump up two weight classes to face UFC veteran Chris Tickle for the KOC lightweight title. While most fighters wouldn't dare take that type of leap at such a crucial point in their career, the move is all part of a master plan for Archuleta.
"I know the UFC is my ultimate destination and I'm not in a rush to get there," Archuleta said. "I just signed a deal with King of the Cage and I'm fighting for their lightweight title this Friday night. That is the first step in my plan as I move toward bigger things in my career. I want to earn the 155-pound title, then capture the 145- and 135-pound belts as well.
"That will make me a legit pound-for-pound threat and that's the position I want to be in when I head to the UFC."
And while those three letters have been the dream for so many fighters over the past 22 years, a majority of those athletes have come and gone without leaving their mark on the sport's biggest stage. Archuleta is a student of the game, and he refuses to make the same mistakes as his peers.
"Some guys get five fights under their belts and are in such a huge rush to get to the UFC," Archuleta said. "They get there and lose their first two fights and are gone in the blink of an eye. That's not going to be me. I am willing to do the work, build myself the right way, and make sure that when I enter that Octagon, it's going to be the place I fight for years to come.
"I see the UFC as the cream of the crop, and I know I still have some growing to do before I get there. I want to be well-rounded and capable of finishing the fight from any position, so when I do get to the UFC, I can ask for their top guys right away. My plan is to be ready to make title runs when I get there, but there is a lot of work I need to do before that happens."
He still carries that mindset in every aspect of his life. Archuleta is not only gaining steam as a prospect in MMA, but in only three years, has established himself as a renowned wrestling coach in California. His program has produced world-ranked athletes, seven state champions and 11 wrestlers who have earned full athletic scholarships to Division I programs.
"I have a lot of good things going for me in my life right now and I'm not looking to slow down that momentum," Archuleta said. "And my fighting career is taking shape because I train with great people. I know my skills are there, but now it's about getting cage time and getting comfortable in there. A life in competition has taught me there are steps that need to be taken."
"It's actually a cool story: the writer of the show was trying to get funding and wanted to do his homework, so he went out to this local fight. He was enthused about the first fight on the card because the kid got dropped right in the beginning, then came back and dominated. Afterward, the kid's family and friends were going crazy and Byron recorded everything he saw.
"Later, he told us about all the MMA fights he's been to and what inspired him to write the show. He started telling me I looked familiar even though we'd never met before, and it turns out that guy he recorded that night was me. It was my first MMA fight ever and that was the one that got him fired up to start creating the show. How crazy is that?"
* Photo credits: Will Fox
"Cub and I have grown so close; we talk about everything now," up-and-coming MMA talent Juan Archuleta said. "He's really helped me a lot in the sense of not only teaching me about the technical aspects of fighting, but the business side as well. To have someone who has been there and done everything is incredible. He's molding me into a smart businessman who can navigate a career wisely."
In addition to the training partnership that bloomed into a friendship, Swanson has also helped guide Archuleta through his journey in MMA. And when it comes to the business side--and the slippery slopes that await promising fighters--Swanson has been especially influential.
"I've gone back and forth with a lot of promotions over the past few years because I stick up for myself," Swanson said. "I don't let them walk all over me or treat me unfairly. I'm a talented guy and believe I should be paid as such. Or at the very least have some sort of negotiation rights. King of the Cage treated me right and they are willing to work with me."
The master plan
Archuleta is confident he'll eventually compete for a UFC title--or multiple titles, for that matter--and he has no problem taking his time to get there. In the time between then and now, Archuleta plans to chase a bit of history. His quest begins this Friday night under the King of the Cage banner.The former Purdue wrestling standout will jump up two weight classes to face UFC veteran Chris Tickle for the KOC lightweight title. While most fighters wouldn't dare take that type of leap at such a crucial point in their career, the move is all part of a master plan for Archuleta.
"I know the UFC is my ultimate destination and I'm not in a rush to get there," Archuleta said. "I just signed a deal with King of the Cage and I'm fighting for their lightweight title this Friday night. That is the first step in my plan as I move toward bigger things in my career. I want to earn the 155-pound title, then capture the 145- and 135-pound belts as well.
"That will make me a legit pound-for-pound threat and that's the position I want to be in when I head to the UFC."
And while those three letters have been the dream for so many fighters over the past 22 years, a majority of those athletes have come and gone without leaving their mark on the sport's biggest stage. Archuleta is a student of the game, and he refuses to make the same mistakes as his peers.
"Some guys get five fights under their belts and are in such a huge rush to get to the UFC," Archuleta said. "They get there and lose their first two fights and are gone in the blink of an eye. That's not going to be me. I am willing to do the work, build myself the right way, and make sure that when I enter that Octagon, it's going to be the place I fight for years to come.
"I see the UFC as the cream of the crop, and I know I still have some growing to do before I get there. I want to be well-rounded and capable of finishing the fight from any position, so when I do get to the UFC, I can ask for their top guys right away. My plan is to be ready to make title runs when I get there, but there is a lot of work I need to do before that happens."
Fueled by competition
While Archuleta's professional career is still in the early stages, his life has been all about competition from the time he could stand on his own two feet. As a product of the California Jets wrestling program, he came up under Olympic legend Dan Henderson's father, Bill. There, Archuleta learned to chase excellence and demand the most of himself.He still carries that mindset in every aspect of his life. Archuleta is not only gaining steam as a prospect in MMA, but in only three years, has established himself as a renowned wrestling coach in California. His program has produced world-ranked athletes, seven state champions and 11 wrestlers who have earned full athletic scholarships to Division I programs.
"I have a lot of good things going for me in my life right now and I'm not looking to slow down that momentum," Archuleta said. "And my fighting career is taking shape because I train with great people. I know my skills are there, but now it's about getting cage time and getting comfortable in there. A life in competition has taught me there are steps that need to be taken."
From the cage to the big screen
Recently, Archuleta's journey took an interesting turn. He's on the cast of Audience's hit drama, "Kingdom." His serendipitous involvement with the show further validates his belief that hard work always pays off."It's actually a cool story: the writer of the show was trying to get funding and wanted to do his homework, so he went out to this local fight. He was enthused about the first fight on the card because the kid got dropped right in the beginning, then came back and dominated. Afterward, the kid's family and friends were going crazy and Byron recorded everything he saw.
"Later, he told us about all the MMA fights he's been to and what inspired him to write the show. He started telling me I looked familiar even though we'd never met before, and it turns out that guy he recorded that night was me. It was my first MMA fight ever and that was the one that got him fired up to start creating the show. How crazy is that?"
* Photo credits: Will Fox