Cub Swanson has had a chance at Jose Aldo. That chance lasted all of eight seconds.

In June, it’ll be five years since Aldo stopped Swanson with a double flying knee at WEC 41, finishing him eight seconds into the bout. Aldo went on to get a featherweight title shot, beat Mike Brown and hasn’t looked back.

Swanson had some ups and downs after that. But after his most recent down, a submission loss to current No. 1 contender Ricardo Lamas, it’s been all up for Swanson. And up. And up.

Swanson (20-5 MMA, 5-1 UFC) has won five straight fights. Four of them have been by knockout, with a pair of “Knockout of the Night” bonuses and a “Fight of the Night” award his last time out against Dennis Siver this past July.

But he’s waiting and hoping for a title shot. Lamas fights Aldo next week at UFC 169, and Swanson could be in line to fight the winner.

“For a long time, I never really cared where I fit in the division or the rankings – until now,” he said. “Until right now. I feel like I’m the best in the world. I just need to prove it. I need a chance. And I really don’t feel like anybody out there can stop me. I just feel like it’s my chance and, if you want to call it destiny or whatever you will, I’ve been waiting a long time for something to come along and happen for me. I’m sick of that and I’m ready to just take it.”

Taking it may involve fighting Aldo if the champ beats Lamas. And Swanson believes he has what it takes to beat the Brazilian in a rematch.

See what Swanson had to say about fighting through diversity to get to where he is today, and what he thinks would be different between his first Aldo fight and now.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.