Joseph Benavidez knows fight week would not have been this quiet had he been facing Henry Cejudo.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag] knows fight week would not have been this quiet had he been facing [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag].
The two have history, when they coached fellow flyweights on “The Ultimate Fighter 24,” then squared off right after the airing of the show. Benavidez narrowly edged Cejudo, picking up a split-decision win in 2016.
Their careers would take different directions though, with Cejudo eventually claiming the UFC flyweight belt from Demetrious Johnson, who Benavidez failed to beat on two occasions, then capturing the UFC bantamweight title. By the time Benavidez was back up the flyweight ladder, Cejudo had decided to relinquish that belt.
But Benavidez (28-5 MMA, 15-3 UFC) doesn’t see a whole lot to gain personally in a potential rematch with Cejudo, who he already beat. If anything, not facing him has made the process a lot smoother for Benavidez, he said, considering Cejudo’s antics and their history.
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“No, honestly not at all,” Benavidez told reporters, including MMA Junkie, on Thursday. “It’s honestly refreshing. This is like, beautiful. We’re in a quiet place. It’s peaceful, like a quiet town; we’re right by the beach. It’s just low-key. It’s nice. I think it would just be a circus with ‘Triple C,’ and not to mention, I already beat him and fought him, and the goal is to win a title, not to beat a guy you’ve already beat. Like that’s the last thing you want to do, honestly. The only thing that’s appealing is the title, not him. So it’s always been about the title, not fighting him again.
“I think it would be harder if it was ‘DJ’ or something or someone that beat me. It’s like, ‘Ah, I’m never going to beat them, but at least I’m getting the title opportunity.’ I already beat the guy, and it was up to him to not come try and avenge a loss and not put up a fight and do something else, so it’s easy for me when I already have a win over him.”
Instead, Benavidez will be taking on Deiveson Figueiredo (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) this Saturday in the UFC on ESPN+ 27 headliner for the vacant UFC flyweight title, where he hopes the third time will be the charm in his pursuit for UFC gold. The event streams live on ESPN+ from Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va.
MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the UFC Norfolk main event between Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo.
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MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for UFC on ESPN+ 27, with the promotion’s vacant flyweight title on the line.
UFC on ESPN+ 27 takes place Saturday at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va. The card streams on ESPN+.
+ Joe-Jitsu specialist
+ State wrestling champion of New Mexico
+ 8 KO victories
+ 9 submission wins
+ 7 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Good feints and footwork
^ Elusive counters or corralling combos
+ Heavy right hand
+ Hard body and calf kicks
+ Superb scrambling ability
^ Urgent get-ups/great reversals
+ Strong from front-headlock position
^ Threatens guillotines/dictates position
+ Regional MMA accolades
+ Regional grappling accolades
+ 8 KO victories
+ 6 submission wins
+ 9 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Well-timed right hands/uppercuts
^ Coming forward or off the counter
+ Slicing elbows from multiple ranges
+ Strong inside the clinch
+ Improved wrestling ability
^ Defensively and offensively
+ Works well from topside
^ Devastating ground striker
+ Dangerous guillotine choke
Point of interest: The price of pressure
The main event in Norfolk features a fantastic fight for the vacant flyweight title that pits the division’s heaviest hitters against each other.
Both men play very well off of pressure, but do so in different ways.
Initially stepping onto the WEC scene as an offensive-minded honey badger armed with the art of eight limbs, [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag] has long had a relationship with pressure, showing a knack for launching corralling combos and chopping leg kicks.
Being among the first of his former Team Alpha Male stable to functionally implement shifts into his footwork, Benavidez has done a bang-up job in regards to adding or adjusting his game so that he can keep up with his contemporaries. In fact, the 14-year vet has smoothly integrated more of a stick-and-move style in spirit, displaying the ability to hit hard counters from either stance.
Coupled with Benavidez’s patented bodywork and newly-involved calf kicks (both of which I suspect will serve him well against his current counterpart), the former title challenger remains a fully-fledged threat on the feet. That said, Benavidez’s high-volume approach to offense has shown to sometimes open him up to hard counters early – something that could be extra-costly against the likes of [autotag]Deivison Figueiredo[/autotag].
Appearing to be a pressure-fighting wildman on the Brazilian regional scene, Figueiredo has seemingly sharpened his style and approach since touching down in the UFC octagon. The 32-year-old contender still relies heavily upon his head and trunk movement but will now add a long-framing defense from both stances, as well as flick out more jabs and straight shots to help establish his range.
This approach both accentuates Figueiredo’s length, as well as entices risky entries from his opposition that open them up for the Brazilian’s powerful counters. Whether he’s unloading counter crosses or uppercuts, Figueiredo demonstrates stellar timing and anticipation to go along with a power that flyweight hasn’t seen since the days of John Lineker.
Should Benavidez slip too slowly to Figueiredo’s power side, then we could see the trajectory of this fight shift on a dime. But considering that Figueiredo will be facing a potent level-changing threat in his first five-round affair, I will be curious to see both how consistent and eager he is to unload offense given that everything comes with a price.
For one night, Megan Olivi will put her reporter duties aside and be a fan when husband Joseph Benavidez shoots for UFC gold.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Megan Olivi may appear on Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 27 broadcast, but it won’t be in her typical capacity as backstage and roving reporter. Instead, she’ll be a nervous cageside bystander.
Olivi is one of the premier talents who fill a variety of roles that keep UFC events and post-fight coverage moving. There’s another crucial element of her life that overlaps with the MMA world, though, and that’s her marriage to [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag].
Benavidez (28-5 MMA, 15-3 UFC) fights Deiveson Figueiredo (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) for the vacant flyweight title in the UFC Norfolk main event, but unlike for many of his previous bouts, Olivi won’t be working the card. This time she’ll be front and center as a spectator, and she’s already trying to prepare herself for the moment.
“He was the co-main event on an ESPN card in June and I was doing live hits and interviews throughout the night, and it’s great,” Olivi told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I actually like that because otherwise everybody just kind of stares at me (like), ‘You OK?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m fine, he’s fighting in like five hours. I’m fine.’ Then it’s like, ‘Are you sure?’ I’m like, ‘Yes! I’m OK.’ I like being able to stay busy and stuff. But when I don’t work, I don’t watch Joe fight.
“This will be the first fight since the first (Jussier) Formiga fight (in September 2013) where he knocked him out in Brazil, this will be the first one I’m octagonside for. Joseph doesn’t get nervous, but I get really nervous, so I just feel like God gives me both of our nerves and I just carry those for the 15 or 25 minutes.”
Olivi echoed the sentiment of many loved ones, family members, friends and even teammates who have spoken about seeing a person they are close with engage in combat. Although she doesn’t have a hint of doubt that her husband will win, Olivi said the lack of control in such a situation is what makes it the most difficult.
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“I have the utmost confidence in his ability; I know how hard he works, and there’s nothing I can do to help,” Olivi said. “I can’t go in there and be like, ‘I got this.’
“I haven’t watched in a really long time. I haven’t watched a lot of his other fights back, but I will be watching this one. I’m sure I’ll have a rosary in hand, but it’ll be great. Our friends and family are all coming, so I have an awesome support system, and he is so great on fight day that I don’t have to worry about him. He’s not nervous or like, ‘I don’t know if I should do this.’ He’s not one of those guys you see backstage who is getting sick or crying or anything like that. He’s genuinely so excited and can’t wait to go out there that it does make everything so much easier for me.”
UFC on ESPN+ 27 takes place at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va. The entire card streams on ESPN+.
Benavidez will hope the third time is the charm when it comes to UFC gold. He lost a split decision to Demetrious Johnson in the promotion’s inaugural flyweight title fight at UFC 152 in September 2012, then suffered a first-round knockout in his title rematch with Johnson at UFC on FOX 9 in December 2013.
There’s been more than six years and nine fights won by Benavidez since he last competed with a belt on the line. Olivi believes realizing that championship moment would do a lot to complete Benavidez’s legacy, but as someone who has been in the passenger seat throughout the whole ride, she said it won’t define it.
“It just solidifies that Joe is one of the best,” Olivi said. “Oftentimes they say, ‘Oh, he’s the best UFC fighter to never have a belt.’ The belt is just an object that shows, yes you are the best in this division. But I think there’s been many times that Joseph has been the best. He’s been in the WEC bantamweight, UFC bantamweight, not to mention flyweight once they created the division. I don’t think people have ever looked at him and been like, ‘Oh, he’s not that good.’ He’s always been one of the best. He’s in the top two or three of two divisions for over 10 years.
“It puts a final stamp on it like, ‘Yeah, your name goes on that list of champions.’ He says there’s an extra line on your Wikipedia page. But I think professionally, it does so much for Joseph. And I think personally, yeah, he would be really happy and he would be really bummed if somehow it didn’t work out. I think he’s such a whole person and has so much to offer, that adding that belt on top would be a really beautiful thing.”
The best stats and figures about UFC on ESPN+ 27, which features a Joseph Benavidez vs. Deiveson Figueiredo main event.
The UFC hosts an event in Virginia for the fifth time in company history on Saturday with UFC on ESPN+ 27, which goes down at Chartway Arena in Norfolk and streams on ESPN+.
A new flyweight champion will be crowned in the main event. [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag] (28-5 MMA, 15-3 UFC) attempts to complete his long journey to UFC gold when he meets the once-beaten [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) for the vacant strap.
For more on the numbers behind the card, check below for 30 pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN+ 27.
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Main event
Joseph Benavidez
Benavidez, 35, can become the oldest fighter to claim a UFC title at welterweight or below.
Benavidez competes in his fourth UFC/WEC title fight. He’s 0-3 in previous opportunities.
Benavidez competes in his 17th UFC flyweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history.
Benavidez’s total fight time of 3:03:30 in UFC flyweight competition is second most in divisional history behind Demetrious Johnson (4:39:12).
Benavidez’s 13 victories in UFC flyweight competition are tied with Johnson for most in divisional history.
Benavidez’s six stoppage victories in UFC flyweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Johnson (seven).
Benavidez’s six knockdowns landed in UFC flyweight competition are second most in divisional history behind John Lineker (seven).
Benavidez’s five knockout victories in UFC flyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Benavidez’s four fight-night bonuses for UFC flyweight bouts are second most in divisional history behind Johnson (nine).
Deiveson Figueiredo
Figueiredo becomes the second Brazilian to fight for the UFC flyweight title. Wilson Reis also accomplished the feat.
Figueiredo has earned 14 of his 17 career victories by stoppage. That includes four of his UFC wins.
Figueiredo lands 52.7 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC flyweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class.
Figueiredo attempts 2.4 submissions per 15 minutes of fighting in UFC flyweight competition, the highest rate in divisional history.
Remaining main card
Zarah Fairn
[autotag]Zarah Fairn[/autotag] (6-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC), 36, is the oldest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.
[autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) has earned 14 of his 15 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished 12 of those wins by knockout.
Cutelaba has earned eight of his career victories in 30 seconds or less.
Cutelaba lands 5.27 significant strikes per minute in UFC light heavyweight competition, the highest rate among active fighters in the weight class.
[autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag]’s (12-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) three-fight UFC winning streak at light heavyweight is tied with Glover Teixeira and Ryan Spann for the second longest active streak in the division behind Jon Jones (four).
Ankalaev is the only light heavyweight in UFC history to earn multiple knockout victories stemming from kicks.
Megan Anderson
[autotag]Megan Anderson[/autotag] (10-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) competes in her fifth UFC women’s featherweight bout, tied with Cris Cyborg for the most appearances in divisional history.
Anderson’s two victories in UFC women’s featherweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Cyborg (four).
Anderson’s two stoppage victories in UFC women’s featherweight competition are tied with Cyborg for most in divisional history.
Anderson has the only triangle choke submission finish in UFC women’s featherweight history. She accomplished the feat at UFC 243.
Preliminary card
Brendan Allen
[autotag]Brendan Allen[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has earned 12 of his 13 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished both of his UFC wins by submission.
[autotag]Tom Breese[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) competes for just the second time since June 2016.
Breese was successful in his UFC middleweight debut at UFC Fight Night 130 in May 2018.
[autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag] (17-6 MMA, 4-5 UFC) is 1-4 in his past five fights dating back to June 2017.
Tybura defends 81.5 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the third best rate in divisional history behind Alexander Volkov (82.8 percent) and Junior Dos Santos (81.8 percent).
[autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has earned all nine of his career victories by stoppage. He’s finished eight of those wins in Round 1.
[autotag]Ismail Naurdiev[/autotag] (19-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC), 23, is the youngest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
On “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” Joe Benavidez put Ryan Seacrest in a guillotine choke just tight enough to let him know.
[autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag] has one of the most important nights of his career coming up Saturday, but he’s making some time during fight week to have a little fun along the way.
The longtime contender will attempt to finally capture the long-elusive flyweight title when he squares off against Deiveson Figueiredo (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) to fill the vacant 125-pound belt on Saturday in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 27 in Norfolk, Va.
Tuesday, Benavidez (28-5 MMA, 15-3 UFC) and his wife, ESPN UFC reporter Megan Olivi, appeared on the popular “Live with Kelly and Ryan” program with hosts Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest.
And Benavidez was all too happy to oblige in a demonstration of his vaunted “Joe Jitsu”skills.
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As Ripa and Olivi watched on, Benavidez showed the audience how to apply a guillotine choke on Seacrest. And while he didn’t hold the hold as tight or for as long as some might like, he squeezed just enough to let the host know. Seacrest can be seen gasping for air as Benavidez lets go.
For all the fun from “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” click on the video linked above.
The likes of Joseph Benavidez, Yoel Romero, Alexander Gustafsson and more make the list.
Many UFC fighters have come close to achieving the sport’s ultimate goal, but have just fallen short. Some have gone on incredible winning streaks and never even gotten a title shot. Some have gotten multiple opportunities, but just couldn’t quite capitalize.
There are many great fighters who haven’t won a UFC title. On Saturday, one of the flyweight division’s staples, Joseph Benavidez, will get his third crack at the 125-pound title when he takes on Deiveson Figueiredo for the vacant belt in the UFC on ESPN+ 27 main event.
Ahead of that headliner, we take a look at 14 of the best fighters to never win a title in the UFC – offered alphabetically; we’ll leave it to you to debate their rankings.
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Joseph Benavidez
[autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag] might have one of the best UFC records in history, and Saturday things could drastically change for his career.
Benavidez will take on Deiveson Figueiredo for the vacant UFC flyweight title at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in his third attempt to capture the title. One man has stood in his way, and that’s former champion Demetrious Johnson, who beat Benavidez twice.
Their first meeting was in 2011, when the UFC 125-pound title was being introduced to the promotion through a flyweight tournament. They met in the finals for the inaugural belt, and Johnson narrowly edged Benavidez with a split decision.
Benavidez picked up three straight wins, including finishes of Darren Uyenoyama and Jussier Formiga, to earn another shot at the title. But Johnson got a much more definitive win when he knocked out Benavidez in the first round.
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That started a very long road back to the title for one of the division’s best, who again has earned his way back to the top. Benavidez won six straight, but suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for more than a year. Eighteen months later, he made his return against Sergio Pettis, but saw his winning streak halted with a split decision loss.
Benavidez quickly rebounded with three straight wins over Alex Perez, Dustin Ortiz and Formiga to get his third shot at flyweight gold.
Benavidez had to remain patient with the uncertainty of the division, Johnson’s eventual surprise move to ONE Championship, and Henry Cejudo’s reign over two divisions. But the title picture finally is much clearer. After Cejudo relinquished the flyweight title, 35-year-old Benavidez has his latest shot at a UFC belt.
Ahead of his return at UFC on ESPN+ 27, relive Joseph Benavidez’s finish over Jussier Formiga at UFC on ESPN 3.
It’s been a long road back to the top for [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag].
The two-time UFC flyweight title challenger has had to climb his way back up the ladder on numerous occasions, and it finally has paid off.
Heading into his rematch with Jussier Formiga at UFC on ESPN 3, Benavidez (28-5 MMA, 15-3 UFC) had won eight of his past nine. The two first fought in Brazil in 2013, where Benavidez scored a quick first-round finish to earn a second shot at then-UFC flyweight king Demetrious Johnson.
More than five years since their first meeting, Benavidez once again found himself in a title eliminator position when he faced Formiga for the second time.
Round 1 started with both men light on their feet, trying to find openings. Benavidez landed to the body early, with two snapping body kicks, while attacking with a calf kick, as well. With Benavidez pressing forward, Formiga was looking to time his counters. He landed a solid left, then a right, causing a cut near Benavidez’s left eye.
Benavidez changed up his approach and stacked Formiga against the cage, but Formiga was able to disengage quickly. The cut on Benavidez’s eye was visibly bothering him, and he continued to wipe blood off of his face. Formiga tried to capitalize by latching onto Benavidez’s back, but Benavidez scrambled out of it.
Round 2 started with Benavidez going right back to the body, then up top to the head, with Formiga content to sit back on the counter. Formiga then ducked under, landing a brief takedown, looking to take the back, but Benavidez was able to reverse and end up in top position.
Formiga used the cage to make his way back up to his feet, and the two continued to exchange. Benavidez continued to land calf kicks which started to hinder Formiga’s movement. Then, with less than 30 seconds remaining to the round, Benavidez landed a head kick, followed by a big overhand right that rocked Formiga, and he continued to pour it on until Formiga tumbled to the ground and the referee stopped the fight.
Benavidez returns to action Saturday in the UFC on ESPN+ 27 headliner in Norfolk, Va., when he takes on Deiveson Figueiredo for the vacant UFC 125-pound title.
We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 27 event in Norfolk, Va.
We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 27 event in Norfolk, Va.
Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC on ESPN+ 27 event staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC on ESPN+ 27 takes place Saturday at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va. The card streams on ESPN+.
Make your picks for all six main card fights inside:
Will the third time be the charm for Joseph Benavidez when he goes after the vacant UFC flyweight title in Virginia?
Will the third time be the charm for [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag]?
There’s no denying Benavidez is one of the best to ever do it in the flyweight division. But in two tries, a UFC title has eluded him thanks to Demetrious Johnson.
The two fought for the inaugural UFC 125-pound belt in 2012, but Johnson took a split decision at UFC 152. A little more than a year later, the two met again – but “Mighty Mouse” shut down Benavidez with a first-round knockout. It remains the only time Benavidez has been stopped.
Johnson headed for ONE Championship, where he’s not the titleholder, after a close loss to Henry Cejudo, who went on to become a two-division champ. He recently vacated the flyweight belt, though he remains the bantamweight champ.
And that sets up Benavidez (28-5 MMA, 15-3 UFC) to fight Brazil’s [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) for the title next month at UFC on ESPN+ 27. The event takes place at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va. The card streams on ESPN+.
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Tuesday, the UFC released the official poster for the event featuring the two headliners. Benavidez has won nine of his past 10 fights – including one over Cejudo. Figueiredo has just one loss in his career.
