By Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News, N.M.
LAS CRUCES — Joseph Benavidez is still focused on earning his first UFC world title and remains among the contenders in the 125-pound weight class.
But the 28-year-old Las Cruces High graduate also appreciates the big picture heading into Saturday’s fight against Darren Uyenoyama. Uyenoyama. The fight will be televised live on FX (Sportsnet ONE in Canada) from San Jose, Calif., on the UFC on Fox card.
“My situation is that I am a good victory from another title shot,” said Benavidez, who is 4-1 in the UFC and 17-3 as a professional. “I’m just realizing that the title shot is going to come and not so much the result but me getting better. It’s more about improving and getting another fight against a tough guy.”
Benavidez is clearly among the top fighters at 125 pounds, beating Ian McCall in February following Benavidez’s loss to Demetrious Johnson in September 2012 in a title fight.
“The flyweight division is still fairly new and we have had a few main events,” Benavidez said. “Unfortunately for me, Johnson has showed that he is the best in the division and there is me, McCall and John Dodson. We are all looking to get another shot at (Johnson) and I think there are some good new names coming in.”
The 33-year-old Uyenoyama is 8-3. While Benavidez stays busy in the UFC, Uyenoyama spaces out his mixed martial arts action. Uyenoyama beat Phil Harris in October 2012.
“Even though I have more fights, he has been fighting for 10 years,” Benavidez said. “He fights in Jiu-Jitsu events and just takes a lot of time in between. Personally I think there is nothing like that in-fight experience. I have fought the top guys year in and year out for the last six years. I think I can go out and overwhelm him.”
Jiu-Jitsu is Uyenoyama’s strength, but Benavidez believes his defense will keep the fight standing up.
“I think it is my fight to win,” Benavidez said. “I think he has to do something drastic to win like take me down and hold me down. I have to stop his takedowns because that is what he wants to do. I think I’m pretty hard to hold onto.”
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