Joseph Benavidez discusses UFC 270 flyweight title fight: “I feel like the moment is going in Brandon Moreno’s way”
Joseph Benavidez was a staple in the history of the UFC flyweight division, having fought for the title four times in his career, he knows the division better than anyone else. In fact, before his retirement in September of last year, Benavidez fought former champion, Deiveson Figueiredo, twice for the vacant title, although he came up short both times.
His experience against Figueiredo as well as title fights means Joseph Benavidez has some credible input surrounding the very best in the division, and that’s why his opinion carries some weight on this weekend’s UFC 270 flyweight title fight between champion Brandon Moreno and Figueiredo whicih will be the third straight meeting between the two.
Speaking to Sirius XM’s ‘Throwing Down‘ hosted by Miesha Tate and Renee Paquette, Benavidez weighed-in on the flyweight co-main event title fight and how he feels about not only the fighters, as well as the excitement surrounding the fight as well.
"I feel like the momentum is going in Brandon's way."
Joe Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) breaks down the Brandon Moreno/Deiveson Figueiredo trilogy going down at #UFC270.@MieshaTate @ReneePaquette
🚨 Joe talked retirement, fashion & SO much more on the podcast!https://t.co/JLZIrsN1ac pic.twitter.com/UmQq9gHuhY
— MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) January 20, 2022
“That’s obviously a great fight. People I’m very famililar with, division, everything. I just get so happy and it’s so satisifying to see people excited about this division, that’s kind of always been what I worked for since the beginning. To see us now in a big PPV event, co-main to the heavyweights, people be excited for it, having great people to look forward to fighting like Brandon and Deiveson.”
As for his prediction on the fight, Joseph Benavidez believes the current champion Brandon Moreno has momentum on his side, having beat Figueiredo in their last meeting and that could carry him to having a successful title defense at UFC 270.
“As far as the fight goes, I feel like the momentum is going in Brandon’s way with the finish in the last fight. I think he came out of that first fight, he took everything Figueiredo had and lost any fear he may be ever had of Figueiredo. There’s nothing to be scared of, [he] obviously finished him in the second fight so I feel the momentum is going his way.”
Although they fought to a draw in their first fight and Brandon Moreno defeated Deiveson Figueiredo in their second fight, Benavidez credits the former champion for making necessary adjustments heading into the trilogy fight between the two.
“But, Figueiredo has made changes and that’s kind of what you have to do after you lose. It’s not like he lost and he’s going to do the same things with the same team, with the same diet, with the same everything. He’s already on weight which has been one of his problems in the past but now working with Henry Cejudo and his team over there, it seems like he’s on the right path. Him doing something different already makes it very more interesting than the other fight, but like I said I think the momentum is going Moreno’s way.”
