Despite three losses in a row, Joseph Benavidez is still one of the best at 125 pounds
Joseph Benavidez is having a tough go of it lately, but that is no reason to write off the four-time title challenger. Despite never winning any of those title fights, Benavidez will go down as one of the best to have ever fought at 125 pounds. Last Saturday night Benavidez stepped back into the Octagon following his two title fight losses against champion Deiveson Figueiredo. Benavidez lost via unanimous decision to Askar Askarov. That puts him at three in a row, the longest losing streak of his long career. However, Benavidez should not be written off so quickly.
“Just want to say thank you to everyone who supported or reached out before during and after. Tough night and I have so many thoughts, I’m just taking it In stride but wanted to show appreciation for the support and the opportunity to compete,” Benavidez wrote on Instagram.
If you look at the list of killers Benavidez has fought throughout his UFC career, they are the best of the best. He came into the UFC at the very start of the flyweight division. He was pitted up against the greatest of all time, Demetrious Johnson, not once, but twice. Both times he put up a good fight. Despite losing, Benavidez continued to fight and grow as a mixed martial artist. After his second title loss to Johnson, Benavidez worked his way back up to another shot at the title.
At 36 years old, Benavidez could be nearing the end of his fighting career. Many think retirement could be looming, but Benavidez is still on top. He could easily work his way back up to another title fight. Perhaps another shot at Figueiredo may not be an option, but if one of the young up-and-comers in the division takes over the belt, Benavidez could get his fifth shot. Even UFC president Dana White thinks it’s too early for Benavidez to hang up his gloves. He said, in the post-fight p[ress conference, that there is no need for the retirement conversation.
There could many more years of excellent fights left for Joseph Benavidez. He is probably the best fighter to have never worn the UFC gold, maybe he will get that chance again one day.
