UFC Veteran Joseph Benavidez Announces Sad News for Fans

Published 09/16/2021, 7:40 AM EDT

Legendary UFC flyweight, Joseph Benavidez has announced his retirement from the sport of MMA. Benavidez has also requested USADA to remove him from the testing pool further confirming the news. Benavidez leaves the UFC with a great legacy behind him.

Although he has lost his last 3 fights inside the Octagon, he had been a fierce contender in the UFC for years. UFC President Dana White has also acknowledged the same. “Joe Benavidez has been a pillar of the lighter weight divisions for years. Since joining WEC in 2008 and then UFC in 2011, he’s used his unstoppable pace and nasty guillotine to remain at the top of two divisions for 13 years,” said White.

Statement from Dana White:
“Joe Benavidez has been a pillar of the lighter weight divisions for years. Since joining WEC in 2008 and then UFC in 2011, he’s used his unstoppable pace and nasty guillotine to remain at the top of two divisions for 13 years.”
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) September 15, 2021

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Congrats on an amazing career @JoeJitsu One of the very best to do it and a total class act. https://t.co/QlVBFJStjL
— michael (@bisping) September 16, 2021

Former UFC middleweight champion, Michael Bisping also reacted to the news of Benavidez’s retirement. “Congrats on an amazing career @JoeJitsu One of the very best to do it and a total class act,” wrote ‘The Count’,

A look back at the career of Joseph Benavidez

Benavidez has fought the biggest names in the UFC’s flyweight and bantamweight divisions throughout his career. He holds wins over the likes of Jussier Formiga, Eddie Wineland, Tim Elliott, and more in his career. He retires with a formidable record of 28-8. However, 3 of those losses have come in his last 3 fights inside the UFC Octagon.

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Benavidez was mostly known for his incredible pace inside the Octagon to overwhelm his opponents. He is quite versatile as well. He managed a total of 17 finishes throughout his career. 8 T/KO and 9 submission wins comprise those numbers for him.

A true veteran of the sport, fighting under promotions like WEC and the UFC, Benavidez has fought for the title in the UFC on multiple occasions. However, he never actually managed to get his hands on the UFC gold. Which might be a regret for Benavidez after calling an end to his illustrious career.

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What do you make of Benavidez‘s retirement? Let us know your thoughts.

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Written by:

Apratim Banerjee is an MMA author for EssentiallySports and has been writing professionally for almost a year. Before his current gig, Apratim worked as a UFC writer for Sportskeeda. A long-time MMA fan, Apratim has developed a critical eye for the sport that has helped him transfer his vast knowledge to his copies and give hardcore and casual readers a detailed insight into the fights and fighters.

UFC Veteran Joseph Benavidez Announces Sad News for Fans

A look back at the career of Joseph Benavidez

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