For Joseph Benavidez when it comes to wearing UFC gold, it just wasn’t to be.
When he hangs up his gloves that should be okay.
His latest tilt at the UFC flyweight strap ended in a first round defeat to the impressive Brazilian Deiveson Figueiredo, his refusal to tap to a vicious rear-naked choke reflective of the heart which has encapsulated a 14-year professional career.
For some, titles, headlines, and purses define careers, but in the case of Benavidez, his legacy is assured without ever reaching the designated peak of a division.
Often mentioned in the lists of the best mixed martial artists to never hold a title, he has taken on the very best in the world, often on multiple occasions, and given them all they could handle and a little more.
In a 28-7 career to date, he has only lost to four men. Figueiredo, twice, Sergio Pettis in 2018, and twice each to Demetrious Johnson and Dominick Cruz.
Of these losses, three were split decisions, with another going the distance. Only Figueiredo can lay claim to finishing him twice.
The second fight against Cruz, and first against Johnson were examples of fighters at the very top of the game with split decisions underlining just how close Benavidez was to standout wins.
A win in that UFC 152 fight against Mighty Mouse would have seen him crowned the very first flyweight champion, again it was not to be.
Starved of limelight in a division which often gets overlooked it would be easy to dismiss his achievements without a title reign.
But the 35-year-old is one of the very best to put on a pair of gloves, and while he now acknowledges title fights will not be on the cards, he doesn’t want to call it a day just yet.
“To be able to do this is a blessing in itself,” said a teary Benavidez. “I am grateful for the opportunities. It’s been awesome and I am not going out like that. Nothing is guaranteed in this sport for sure, but I am not going to get another title shot, but I don’t want to go out on that. I just want to go out on another fight. After that there is nothing else for me to do.”
When the day comes to step away from the Octagon, Benavidez will be revered, standout wins over Henry Cejudo, Ian McCall, Jussier Formiga and Miguel Torres to name but a few.
Across his 28 victories, the split of knockouts, submissions, and decisions (8-9-11), shows how well rounded his game is – his capability of winning fights from almost any position is something that would be envied by many a peer.
At five feet four inches tall, weighing in at 125lbs his physical stature may not be great, but his standing in the game certainly is.
