Joseph Benavidez isn’t getting another title shot as he likely hoped following his decision nod over Ian McCall at UFC 156. Rather, he’ll meet the crafty Darren Uyenoyama at UFC on FOX 7.
Benavidez will carry a 4-1 promotional record into the Octagon on April 20. His lone defeat came in a failed title bid with current flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson at UFC 152. It’s a loss he’s itching to avenge, and a win over Uyenoyama might align another title shot for the Team Alpha Male standout.
Uyenoyama is still undefeated while competing under the Zuffa-owned UFC banner. He upset the former top-ranked Norifumi Yamamoto at UFC on FOX 1 and followed that up with a second-round submission of Phil Harris at UFC on FX 5.
A win won’t likely ensure any title talk for Uyenoyama, but Benavidez is sure to be back in the mix should he secure a convincing victory.
UFC on FOX 7 is headlined by a lightweight championship fight between promotional ace Benson Henderson and the highly touted Strikeforce champ, Gilbert Melendez. The HP Pavilion in San Jose, California will host the event.
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