Last night Joseph Benavidez (25-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) won his sixth straight Flyweight fight as he secured a split decision victory over rival TUF coach Henry Cejudo (10-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) in the co-main event of The Ultimate Fighter 24” finale.
In a fight which was fought at an electric pace which saw Benavidez get in and out using his speed to counteract the power and aggression of Cejudo. Early on in the first round Cejudo made a pair of mistakes that may well have played a big factor in the result of the fight, after being warned for catching Benavidez in the groin Cejudo then went on to repeat the accidental groin kick a minute later causing referee Yves Lavigne to call for a point deduction.
The second and third rounds were very similar to that of the opening five minutes, albeit with an extra injection of pace. Benavidez used his speed opening up with a number of quick flurries landing lead elbows and punches meanwhile Cejudo landed heavy strikes of his own including some kicks to the body as he looked to slow down his opponent.
When it was all over the final striking figures for both fighters were nearly identical, two judges scored the fight for Benavidez whilst the other judge gave Cejudo every round before the point deduction; 27-29, 30-26, 29-27.
After the fight the American looked to have a rematch with champion Demetrious Johnson in his sights, Mighty Mouse featured in the main event of last night’s card marking his ninth consecutive title defence with a unanimous decision victory over TUF winner Tim Elliot.
“The only fight I want now is Demetrious Johnson,” Benavidez said. “DJ and I could fight one million times and it would be one million great, world class competitions. I wouldn’t accept anyone else. That’s the fight.”
Benavidez’s record against the champion currently sits at 0-2 and his only two defeats in the UFC have both came at the hands of DJ in title fights. The two first met at UFC 152 where Mighty Mouse won a split decision and walked away with the vacant belt and then again at UFC on Fox 9 where the champion KO’d the 32 year old inside the first round.
Despite his poor record Benavidez looks the most likely fighter to get a shot at the 125lb belt and stop the one and only flyweight champion so far from equalling Anderson Silva all-time record of 10.
