Recent flyweight title challenger Joseph Benavidez will face Tim Elliott at UFC 172, according to MMAFighting.com.
Benavidez, who is currently ranked No. 2 in the 125-pound division, failed in his pursuit for UFC gold at UFC on Fox 9 in December 2013, where he was knocked out by champion Demetrious Johnson in Round 1.
That fight marked Benavidez‘s second loss to “Mighty Mouse” in championship action, and now the Team Alpha Male standout looks to get back on the winning track against Elliott April 26 in Baltimore, Md.
For his part, Elliott has looked every bit the part of a top flyweight during his UFC run.
In his Octagon debut, Elliott was fed to highly touted contender and current No. 1-ranked flyweight John Dodson.
Despite many feeling that Elliott would serve as a stepping stone on Dodson’s title run, the lanky and unorthodox flyweight impressed, pushing Dodson to the final bell while nearly matching Dodson’s efficiency and output. Despite losing a unanimous decision, Elliott proved his worth against the division’s best, and he has backed up that notion by going 2-1 since.
Benavidez, however, represents a significant challenge, and Elliott will certainly come into the bout as a heavy underdog.
Benavidez has had no trouble mowing down every fighter not named Demetrious Johnson during his flyweight career, and Elliott, who is currently ranked No. 8, has faltered every time he’s faced an elite opponent in UFC action.
With the addition of Benavidez vs. Elliott, UFC 172 is shaping up nicely.
It’s still early for predictions, but who do you favor in this matchup? Can Elliott pull off the upset, or is Benavidez just too good?
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