5 Most Savage Finishes of Joseph Benavidez’s Career
A KO or submission win over Alex Perez wouldn’t just welcome Benavidez back into the win column but it would also mark his first stoppage victory in over four years.
Jason Silva-USA TODAY SportsThough the future of the 125-pound class hangs in jeopardy, Joseph Benavidez played a huge role in its history. The UFC had Benavidez in mind when they established the flyweight class in 2012, kicking it off with a four-man tournament, putting the former Team Alpha Male member on the opposite end of the premier fighter in the division, Ian McCall.
Demetrious Johnson proceeded to beat both of them. And before this year, in the form of a split-decision loss to Sergio Pettis, only Johnson and Dominick Cruz had ever come out victorious over Benavidez.
Benavidez dropped two tight decisions to Cruz in the WEC, both bantamweight title matches. Undersized at 135 pounds, Joseph Benavidez has consistently punched above his weight-class—scoring a babe like Megan Olivi while exclusively wearing deep v-necks, not counting.
A KO or submission win over Alex Perez on Friday’s The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale wouldn’t just welcome Benavidez back into the win column but it would also mark his first stoppage victory in over four years, an eternity considering his career was built on huge punching power and a penchant for snatching necks.
So some reminiscence is in order.
Here are the five most-savage finishes of Benavidez’s career:
5. SUB1 Junya Kodo
When Benavidez took a perfect 8-0 record into Japan for Dream 5 in July 2008, he was originally set to do battle with Kid Yamamoto. But Shooto veteran Junya Kodo eventually replaced the little-weight megastar, robbing history of a surefire scrap.
Instead, Benavidez immediately hit a takedown following the first exchange. On the feet, he demonstrated what would develop into his trademark arsenal: overhand punches, snapping front kicks and arcing elbows.
The state-wrestling champion landed another takedown at the two-minute mark. Connecting his hands from back clinch, Benavidez raised Kodo in the air and back down for a thudding slam. The Japanese got off his back only to be muscled seconds later into a mounted guillotine. Benavidez cinched his man’s neck and a savage career was set in motion.
4. TKO2 Darren Uyenoyama
In April 2013, Benavidez continued his march toward a rematch with “Mighty Mouse” Johnson by brutalizing Darren Uyenoyama’s insides at UFC on FOX 7.
In Round 1, a number of blows from Benavidez threw Uyenoyama, a jiu-jistu world champion, off balance. None of which more devastating than when he scored the first knockdown of the fight, masking a right high kick with a one-two.
With 30 seconds to go in the next round, Benavidez planted another kick into Uyenoyama, this one into the right side of the jiu-jitsu world champion’s ribs. Benavidez continued targeting the same spot until a left hook finally folded Uyenoyama for good.
That same year, another body assault, over Jussier Formiga, put Benavidez back in front of the flyweight king.
3. SUB1 Tim Elliot
Ahead of UFC 172, the only men to get Benavidez to the mat more than twice were his two rivals Demetrious Johnson and Dominic Cruz, in five-round title fights. In less than one round, however, Tim Elliot was able to take him down three times.
Not even Benavidez could keep up with Elliot’s frantic pace, buzzing around in an indecipherable pattern. The future title contender even secured Benavidez in a crucifix halfway into the opening round. But Elliot’s final takedown would do him in.
Three minutes into the period, Benavidez recovered from being dragged down, reversed position, and pinned Elliot to the canvas. He moved into his famous mounted guillotine and laced up not just his man’s neck but both of Elliot’s hands were also trapped inside of Benavidez’s legs.
Elliot blenched, trying to buck off his assailant. But to no avail, he was left with no choice but to desperately “tap” with his feet.
2. KO2 Yasuhiro Urushitani
After absorbing the WEC, the UFC set “Joe-B” up in the semifinal of the flyweight tournament with former Shooto champion Yasuhiro Urushitani at UFC on FOX 2.
It was a tentative first stanza. A Judoka with blistering hands and legs, the Japanese had no problem trading leg kicks with Benavidez. But the American wrestler secured one takedown and closed out the round in back-control.
Just 10 seconds into Round 2, Urushitani returned to his kicks, throwing a body kick that Benavidez countered perfectly. He parried the blow and hurled back a right hand right, launching Urushitani dramatically off his feet and to the ground where Benavidez peppered him until the referee called a halt.
1. SUB2 Miguel Torres
At WEC 47, Benavidez had just one loss on his ledger and a convincing victory would put him back in line for the bantamweight strap opposite Cruz.
Miguel Torres, with a sterling record of 37-2, was just one loss removed from being among the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world when he met up with Benavidez.
Though outstruck in the first period, especially in the clinch, Benavidez managed one takedown. His second one resulted in a crimson-red masterpiece.
From top position, Benavidez slashed an elbow across the skull of Torres, opening up a scary gash atop his head. Highlighted in red, against the promotion’s blue canvas, Torres turned to all-fours and wrapped his arms around his opponent’s thighs like he was driving for a double-leg takedown.
Naturally, Benavidez leaped into a guillotine, binding his arms—unrelenting, even moments after Torres tapped. It was the former champion’s first loss by submission, and Benavidez’s most savage of victories.
