The last few months in the UFC have been filled with memorable fights, moments and news. It seems like everyday something newsworthy happens in MMA’s biggest promotion. This Saturday in Sacramento two of the promotions smallest look to have the biggest performance of the year.
Demetrius “Mighty Mouse” Johnson looks to successfully defend his title for the third time against a very familiar foe in Joseph Benavidez. The two previously met in September of 2012 in what was the final bout in a mini tournament to crown the UFC’s first-ever flyweight champion. Johnson won that highly contested bout by a split decision that could have gone either way. This second meeting is an opportunity for Johnson to distance himself even more from the top of the heap and for Benavidez to prove that loss was a fluke.
It is rare when two fighters meet in a title fight and both are considered by many to be the top two in that weight class, this bout is one of those few instances. These two match-up pretty well. They’re evenly matched in almost every aspect of the fight game. From their wrestling to their striking, Johnson and Benavidez promise to be mirror images inside the octagon.
Both come in riding impressive win streaks. Johnson has won his past four bouts while Benavidez is 4-1 in his last five bouts, the lone loss being to Johnson. Johnson has been grinding out victories (just two finishes in his UFC career) lately, but might have his hands full with Joseph who has finished his last two opponents by knockout/TKO. How the fight ends depends on who’s able to control the tempo.
Looking at the stats, Johnson looks like the better striker (3.32 significant strikes per minute) over Benavidez (2.99) but looking at the average length in their fights shows that Benavidez has been more active and finishing fights. The takedown nod also goes to Johnson who averages 3.73 per 15 minutes while Benavidez averages less than two. If these numbers hold true, there could be a repeat of the first meeting between these two.
As much as these two are aware of each others’ styles, there’s one advantage the challenger has over the champion; a new head coach.
Since Duane Ludwig took over at the helm for Team Alpha Male, the diminutive fighters from Sacramento have been hot. And, not only have they been winning but they have been doing so in impressive fashion. Just look at the fighters on this card that are representing Team Alpha Male. Benavidez has two KO/TKOs, Chad Mendes has 4 straight KO/TKO wins, Urijah Faber has won 2 of his last 3 bouts via submission and Danny Castillo is on a two-fight win streak of his own. All in all, TAM has lost less than five bouts since Ludwig joined the team.
For Johnson, he’s been consistent while getting stronger and better as a fighter. He’s as dangerous now as he was when he won the title over a year ago. Even after a slight bump in the road due to an injury, “Mighty Mouse” has proven to be difficult to dethrone. His quickness is still an issue for opponents as his is power for a 125-pound fighter.
Similar styles, similar size and very recent history between these two all add up to what should be an incredible fight. Saturday in Sacramento will either be Benavidez’s coming out party or it will be Johnson’s opportunity to show the world that he is hands down the best flyweight in the world.
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