2. Heartbreak for Joseph Benavidez
That was a tough one to watch for Benavidez, who is universally considered one of the best human beings in the sport. He was doing well in the fight up until the knockout, but it also seemed to be trending in a worrying direction. His power wasn’t really effecting Figueiredo that badly, and while he may have been able to pick his shots for five rounds, it was a stiff task.
Benavidez is now 0-3 in UFC championship fights, joining a short list with six other fighters in company history to have that dubious distinction on his resume. At 35, he’s the oldest active fighter in the flyweight division, and it remains to be seen if he’ll be eager to put in the effort to try to get back into this spot.
It was definitely a bad decision by the UFC production team to force Benavidez into an interview with Michael Bisping in the immediate aftermath of the result, and the heartbreak of defeat was clear on his face. The knockout happened right in front of me on press row, and it wasn’t a soft one. There was major damage inflicted.
In addition to the interview, it was gut wrenching to watch Benavidez’s wife, UFC reporter Megan Olivi, try to console her partner at his lowest of lows. Benavidez is nothing if not resilient, though, and if he feels compelled to push forward, he’s got the support of a great woman, great coaches and a strong mindset to get there.
This was painful to watch. Tough moment for Joe and Megan. #UFCNorfolk pic.twitter.com/edZXVciiqU
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) March 1, 2020