Demetrious Johnson Hopes to Meet Joseph Benavidez for UFC Flyweight Championship

Hardcore UFC fans, for the last few years, have been demanding a flyweight division for the likes of undersized elite bantamweights Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and Joseph Benavidez.

After years of demanding to have the flyweights, UFC execs created a four-man flyweight tournament with Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall and Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani for UFC on FX 2.

Fans and pundits believe it is inevitable for Johnson and Benavidez to meet in the finals, and it’s Mighty Mouse’s dream to make the fight happen for the fans.  While fans may be salivating over the potential match-up, the AMC Pankration pupil knows that he and Benavidez are facing difficult challengers.

“If I say, yeah, my side is a little tougher than his, that’s me short turning Yasuhiro Urushitani,” Johnson told MMAWeekly Radio Weekend Edition.

“They’re both great fighters, they’re both champions in their own organizations, and we got two tough guys in front of us. Hopefully me and Joseph get past these two and we’re able to give the fans what they want to see, which is me and Joseph for the flyweight title.”

As the bout gets closer and closer, the 25-year-old sees that he and Benavidez have big fight experience advantages over McCall and Urushitani, having fought in both the WEC and the UFC.  Benavidez and Johnson have both fought the crème de la crème under the bright spotlight, while McCall and Urushitani may have to fight their nerves when they step into the Octagon.

“Absolutely, it’s an advantage that I guess you can look at it and say that these two guys haven’t fought in the UFC and these two guys are coming from organizations that are not up to the par with the UFC.  This isn’t my first rodeo, and this won’t be a walk in the park, but the jitters won’t be on my side.”

With Johnson and Benavidez having experience on their side and finally getting to fight in a weight class where they won’t be undersized, one of the two men may finally get to wear UFC gold.  The fans and Johnson may get their wish of Benavidez vs. Johnson in the finals, but they first have to get past McCall and Urushitani at UFC on FX 2.

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