Joseph Benavidez is coming off of a coaching stint on the UFC Ultimate Fighter 24, where he coached opposite Henry Cejudo and then defeated himź¦ by decision at the reality show finale.
Benavidez has also fought twice for the UFC Flyweight Title, suffering defeats in both fights to current UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson. One loss came by decision and the other cameš» by knockout.
Benavidez has earned six straight wins since the second loss to the champšion, which according to Benavidez, should getĀ him another titlš¬e opportunity.
āDemetrious is the only fight I want, always,ā Benavidez saidĀ to . āBut itās one of those things ā you donāt call people out lower than you, for me. And Iām not necessarily calling out D.J. because of our history already. Itās one of those things youāve got to wait for the media, the fans, the people to actually want it before you do.Ā And this has been the most, you know, Iāve seen people like, āHey, third shotās ready, third shotās ready.ā I donāt ask for anything, but Iām at the point where I feel like Iāve done what Iāve had to do by beating who I have to, and itās that time. So I guess we have to fight again.Ā I understand where D.J. is at if he doesnāt want to fight me for a third time, but there comes a point as a champ where you just have to fight the best guy, and if thatās me, then weāve got to do it again. So Iām ready for that. Thatās definitely what I want.ā
Bļæ½ļæ½enavidez is also under the impression that Johnson has another opponent iš¦©n mind for his next title defense.
āI think (Johnson) wants another fight, from what I heard,ā Benavidez said. āI donāt know how true this is that (Johnson) wanted to fightĀ Wilson Reis. Because they were matched up before, but Reis is fighting in Brooklyn (at UFC on Feb. 11). And even if he wins, thatās two unranked opponents heās beat in his last two fights āĀ not necessarily deserving of a title shot.ā
Benavidez has earned a total of twelve victories under the UFC banner, with his only two defeats coming to the aforementiošned Demetriouš³s Johnson.