UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson is set to defend his title against Henry Cejudo on April 23rd. Before that happens, check out the shocking KO win “Mighty Mouse” scored against Joseph Benavidez in December 2013.
Today’s free fight video centers around one Demetrious Johnson. The UFC’s reigning flyweight champion and one of the top P4P fighters in MMA has been the only 125 lbs title-holder since the weight class was included back in 2012. Johnson won the inaugural flyweight tournament by narrowly defeating Joseph Benavidez at UFC 152 in Toronto. After successfully defending the title against John Dodson and John Moraga, the UFC booked a Benavidez rematch. It was initially scheduled to headline the TUF 18 Finale, but it was moved to UFC on FOX 9 on December 14th, 2013 when the original main event of Anthony Pettis vs. Josh Thomson fell through.
The first fight was so close, that another close fight was expected for the rematch. Instead, fans in Sacramento, CA witnessed what is, at least in my opinion, one of the most shocking finishes in UFC history. Johnson walloped Benavidez with a right hand just 2 minutes into the 1st round, instantly putting him to sleep, but he added a few more lightning fast punches for good measure to end the bout. That Johnson beat Benavidez was by no means surprising, but to knock him out was an entirely different story altogether.
You can watch the full fight at the top of the page.
Here’s how Tim Burke described the entirety of the fight in the Bloody Elbow play-by-play:
Round 1 – They exchanged leg kicks early. Mighty Mouse scooped a single leg but couldn’t get a takedown. More kicks from both men. Benavidez scored with a hard right. Johnson clubbed him with a right! WOW! HE’S OUT! Followup punches on an unconscious man! That was crazy!
Demetrious Johnson defeats Joseph Benavidez by knockout (punches), round 1
And here’s the Bloody Elbow community reaction to the finish:
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This fight remains the only knockout win of Demetrious Johnson’s Zuffa career, and the only stoppage loss for Joseph Benavidez. Perhaps they’ll meet a third time at some point this year, but Johnson will first defend his title against undefeated Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo in the UFC 197 co-main event on April 23rd.