Joseph Benavidez

MMA · Retired

28-8RECORD

8KO / TKO WINS

9SUBMISSION WINS

11DECISION WINS

Profile

Full name	Joseph Rolando Benavidez
Nickname	Not added yet
Date of birth	31 Jul 1984
Nationality	American
Birthplace	San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Lives in	Not added yet
Division	Flyweight / Bantamweight
Team	Team Alpha Male / Xtreme Couture
Height	163 cm (5′4″)
Reach	165 cm (65″)
Stance	Not added yet
Years active	2006–2021
Status	Retired
Pro debut	3 Jun 2006
Last fight	Loss vs Askar Askarov, 6 Mar 2021

Details on this page were compiled from public information on 10 Oct 2026 (the record is as of that date). Is this you? Claim this profile to correct anything and add your photo and bio. Claim this profile

Titles and honours

No championships won (lost five title fights)
UFC Knockout of the Night (1x)
UFC Performance of the Night (3x)

Background

Joseph Benavidez is an American former mixed martial artist who competed in Dream, WEC and the UFC. He is regarded as one of the best flyweights never to win a title.

Fight history

36 professional fights. Newest first.

Result	Opponent	Method	Round	Time	Event	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	Askar Askarov	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 259	6 Mar 2021	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Catchweight (127 lb) bout; Askarov missed weight
Loss	Deiveson Figueiredo	Technical submission (rear-naked choke)	1	4:48	UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2	19 Jul 2020	Abu Dhabi, UAE	For the vacant UFC Flyweight Championship
Loss	Deiveson Figueiredo	TKO (punches)	2	1:54	UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs. Figueiredo	29 Feb 2020	Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.	For the vacant UFC Flyweight Championship; Figueiredo missed weight and was ineligible to win
Win	Jussier Formiga	TKO (head kick and punches)	2	4:47	UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos	29 Jun 2019	Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.	Performance of the Night
Win	Dustin Ortiz	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw	19 Jan 2019	Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Win	Alex Perez	TKO (punches)	1	4:21	The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters Finale	30 Nov 2018	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Performance of the Night
Loss	Sergio Pettis	Decision (split)	3	5:00	UFC 225	9 Jun 2018	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Henry Cejudo	Decision (split)	3	5:00	The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions Finale	3 Dec 2016	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Cejudo deducted one point in round 1 for repeated low blows
Win	Zach Makovsky	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson	6 Feb 2016	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	Ali Bagautinov	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 192	3 Oct 2015	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Win	John Moraga	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 187	23 May 2015	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	Dustin Ortiz	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Swanson	22 Nov 2014	Austin, Texas, U.S.
Win	Tim Elliott	Submission (guillotine choke)	1	4:08	UFC 172	26 Apr 2014	Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.	Performance of the Night
Loss	Demetrious Johnson	KO (punch)	1	2:08	UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Benavidez 2	14 Dec 2013	Sacramento, California, U.S.	For the UFC Flyweight Championship
Win	Jussier Formiga	TKO (knee to the body and punches)	1	3:07	UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Bader	4 Sep 2013	Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Win	Darren Uyenoyama	TKO (body punches)	2	4:50	UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Melendez	20 Apr 2013	San Jose, California, U.S.
Win	Ian McCall	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 156	2 Feb 2013	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Loss	Demetrious Johnson	Decision (split)	5	5:00	UFC 152	22 Sep 2012	Toronto, Ontario, Canada	For the inaugural UFC Flyweight Championship; tournament final
Win	Yasuhiro Urushitani	TKO (punches)	2	0:11	UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann	3 Mar 2012	Sydney, Australia	Flyweight debut; tournament semifinal; Knockout of the Night
Win	Eddie Wineland	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC Live: Hardy vs. Lytle	14 Aug 2011	Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Win	Ian Loveland	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 128	19 Mar 2011	Newark, New Jersey, U.S.	UFC debut
Win	Wagnney Fabiano	Submission (guillotine choke)	2	2:45	WEC 52	11 Nov 2010	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Loss	Dominick Cruz	Decision (split)	5	5:00	WEC 50	18 Aug 2010	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	For the WEC Bantamweight Championship
Win	Miguel Torres	Submission (guillotine choke)	2	2:57	WEC 47	6 Mar 2010	Columbus, Ohio, U.S.	Submission of the Night
Win	Rani Yahya	TKO (punches)	1	1:35	WEC 45	19 Dec 2009	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Loss	Dominick Cruz	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	WEC 42	9 Aug 2009	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Fight of the Night
Win	Jeff Curran	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	WEC 40	5 Apr 2009	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Danny Martinez	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	WEC 37	3 Dec 2008	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	Junya Kodo	Submission (guillotine choke)	1	2:42	Dream 5	21 Jul 2008	Osaka, Japan	Catchweight (139 lb) bout
Win	Maurice Eazel	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	1:02	PFC 8: A Night of Champions	8 May 2008	Lemoore, California, U.S.
Win	Jason Georgianna	Submission (guillotine choke)	2	0:38	PFC 6: No Retreat, No Surrender	17 Jan 2008	Lemoore, California, U.S.
Win	Rocky Del Monte	Submission (triangle choke)	2		Independent Event	1 Jun 2007	Lakeport, California, U.S.
Win	Carlos Lovio	TKO (punches)	1		Bring it On: Under Destruction	28 Apr 2007	Oxnard, California, U.S.
Win	Justin Smitley	TKO (doctor stoppage)	3	2:18	Warrior Cup 2	7 Apr 2007	Stockton, California, U.S.
Win	Ramon Rodriguez	Submission (triangle choke)	2	2:33	Border Warz	14 Oct 2006	Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Win	Brandon Shelton	Submission (kimura)	2		Universal Fight Promotions	3 Jun 2006	Mescalero, New Mexico, U.S.