| Joseph Benavidez | |
|---|---|
| Born | Joseph Rolando Benavidez July 31, 1984 San Antonio, Texas, United States[1] |
| Other names | Joe B-Wan Kenobi[2], The Beefcake |
| Nationality | American [3] |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)[1] |
| Weight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st)[3] |
| Division | Flyweight |
| Reach | 65.0 in (165 cm)[4] |
| Style | Wrestling, Grappling, Kickboxing |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Fighting out of | Sacramento, California, U.S.[3] |
| Team | Team Alpha Male[5] |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 17 |
| Wins | 15 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 8 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Losses | 2 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
|
|
|
Joseph Rolando Benavidez (born July 31, 1984) is an American mixed martial artist. After fighting in smaller shows while working as a screen printer in Las Cruces, New Mexico, he joined up with Urijah Faber's Team Alpha Male in 2007. He has since fought in Dream and most recently the World Extreme Cagefighting promotion. He currently fights as a bantamweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. His fighting style has drawn comparisons to training partner and former WEC Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber.[6]
As of November 2011, Benavidez is ranked the #3 bantamweight in the world by Sherdog.[7]
Contents |
Benavidez attended Las Cruces High School where he played varsity football, winning two State Championships,[8] and wrestled varsity for 4 years (1999–2002).[9] In 2000 Benavidez became the State Wrestling Champion of New Mexico at 103 lbs during his sophomore year.[1][10] Benavidez also wrestled one year (2001–02) at William Penn University in Iowa before moving back to Las Cruces, New Mexico.[11][12]
Benavidez has been competing for several years in mixed martial arts. The exact number of underground or unsanctioned fights he participated in is unknown, but he was undefeated in all of his professional fights until his first loss to Dominick Cruz via decision in 2009. The fight turned out to be a #1 contenders match for the WEC Bantamweight (135 lb) Title. His next fight was on March 6, 2010 at WEC 47 where he defeated his opponent [13] former WEC Bantamweight champion Miguel Torres, who dominated the division with 17 consecutive wins.[14] Both Benavidez's first loss and Torres loss of the Bantamweight title occurred on August 9, 2009 at WEC 42. Benavidez's next fight was at WEC 52 where he submitted world renowned submission specialist Wagnney Fabiano in the second round via guillotine choke. Benavidez has used Ted Nugent's "Stranglehold" (or a similar version of the song) as his entrance music throughout his career, which alludes to his preferred method of finishing a fight.
Before joining up with Urijah Faber, Benavidez fought in smaller shows and trained while working as a screen printer in New Mexico. Hoping to eventually make a living fighting MMA, he sought out Faber on a trip to California in January 2007. Unable to find Faber's gym, he visited one in Roseville hoping to locate him. There his fighting ability impressed the members and instructors enough (or, in Faber's words: "[he] basically beat the crap out of everyone")[5] to refer him to Faber. This was only hours before Benavidez' flight home was due and he had to leave for the airport, unable to meet up with him.[5]
| “ | "I had finally found him, and it was at the end of my vacation. I went to airport and my friends dropped me off; [I] was ready to go back to New Mexico and my regular life."[5] | ” |
His flight was then canceled, giving him the chance to meet up with Faber as he had hoped. Benavidez impressed Faber enough to offer him a job at the front desk of his gym, enabling him to leave New Mexico to come train with him and his team. Benavidez then went back to New Mexico, "jammed everything into his car" and moved to California.[5] After fighting with smaller US-based promotions, Benavidez was offered a fight with Norifumi Yamamoto by Japanese MMA-promoter Dream in July 2008 at Dream 5.[5] The bout was canceled only days before the fight,[5] and Benavidez was instead matched against Junya Kudo whom he defeated by guillotine choke submission.
Benavidez was then signed by US-based World Extreme Cagefighting. On December 3, 2008, he fought Danny Martinez at WEC 37 and won by unanimous decision. He defeated Jeff Curran by unanimous decision at WEC 40 on April 5, 2009.[5] Benavidez dominated Curran from the opening bell with superior grappling and striking, knocking the opponent down in the first round. Curran unsuccessfully attempted an armbar in the second round and a triangle choke in the third round. Joseph fought Dominick Cruz at WEC 42 and lost by unanimous decision.
Benavidez fought Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Rani Yahya on December 19, 2009 at WEC 45.[15] Benavidez won via first round TKO.[16]
Benavidez defeated former WEC Bantaweight Champion Miguel Torres on March 6, 2010 at WEC 47. He dominated the former Bantamweight Champion opening a huge cut on Torres' forehead and ended up submitting the former champion by guillotine choke.[17]
Benavidez fought Dominick Cruz for the WEC Bantaweight Championship on August 18, 2010 at WEC 50.[18] The bout was a rematch of their contest at WEC 42, in which Cruz handed Benavidez his first career loss, via decision.
Benavidez lost to Dominick Cruz for a second time in their rematch via split decision.
Benavidez faced Wagnney Fabiano on November 11, 2010, replacing an injured Brian Bowles.[19] Benavidez defeated Fabiano via second round submission. After a uneventful first round of striking between the two, Benavidez stung Fabiano with a left and pounced, submitting him with a guillotine after unsuccessfully trying for it twice earlier, submitting the 3rd degree black belt at 2:45 of the second round.
On October 28, 2010, World Extreme Cagefighting merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.[20]
In his UFC debut, Benavidez faced Ian Loveland on March 19, 2011 at UFC 128.[21] He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Benavidez next fought Eddie Wineland on August 14, 2011 at UFC on Versus 5.[22] Benavidez defeated Wineland by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). [23]
Benavidez has recently stated a possible move to the 125-pound division when the flyweight roster is added to the UFC.
At the UFC 140 post-fight press conference, Dana White announced that Benavidez would be a participant in a four man tournament to crown the new newly created UFC Flyweight (MMA) Championship. Benavidez is expected to face Yasuhiro Urushitani on March 3, 2012 at UFC on FX 2 .[24]
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 17 matches | 15 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 0 |
| By submission | 8 | 0 |
| By decision | 4 | 2 |
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 15-2 | Eddie Wineland | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Live: Hardy vs. Lytle | August 14, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Win | 14–2 | Ian Loveland | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 128 | March 19, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 13–2 | Wagnney Fabiano | Submission (guillotine choke) | WEC 52 | November 11, 2010 | 2 | 2:45 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 12–2 | Dominick Cruz | Decision (split) | WEC 50 | August 18, 2010 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | For WEC Bantamweight Championship |
| Win | 12–1 | Miguel Torres | Submission (guillotine choke) | WEC 47 | March 6, 2010 | 2 | 2:57 | Columbus, Ohio, United States | Submission of the Night |
| Win | 11–1 | Rani Yahya | TKO (punches) | WEC 45 | December 19, 2009 | 1 | 1:35 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 10–1 | Dominick Cruz | Decision (unanimous) | WEC 42 | August 9, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night |
| Win | 10–0 | Jeff Curran | Decision (unanimous) | WEC 40 | April 5, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 9–0 | Danny Martinez | Decision (unanimous) | WEC 37 | December 3, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 8–0 | Junya Kudo | Submission (guillotine choke) | Dream 5 | July 21, 2008 | 1 | 2:42 | Osaka, Japan | Fought at Featherweight (139 Ibs) |
| Win | 7–0 | Maurice Eazel | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Palace Fighting Championship 8: A Night of Champions | May 8, 2008 | 1 | 1:02 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Jason Georgianna | Submission (guillotine choke) | Palace Fighting Championship 6: No Retreat, No Surrender | January 17, 2008 | 2 | 0:38 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Rocky Del Monte | Submission (triangle choke) | Independent Event | June 1, 2007 | 2 | N/A | Lakeport, California, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Carlos Lovio | TKO (punches) | Bring it On: Under Destruction | April 28, 2007 | 1 | N/A | Oxnard, California, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Justin Smitley | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Warrior Cup 2 | April 7, 2007 | 3 | 2:18 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Ramon Rodriguez | Submission (triangle choke) | Border Warz | October 14, 2006 | 2 | 2:33 | Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Brandon Shelton | Submission (kimura) | Universal Fight Promotions | June 3, 2006 | 2 | N/A | Mescalero, New Mexico, United States |