Attending the UFC gym opening in Torrance, CA a few weeks ago, our cameras caught up with UFC flyweight title contender Joseph Benavidez and discussed his own upcoming fight, training and his thoughts on the current season of TUF, which his Team Alpha Male partner Urijah Faber is coaching on.
Staying inLas Vegas for two months to help coach alongside “The California Kid” on the reality show, Benavidez is finding time to improve his own game and skills, “I think training is better when you don’t have a fight scheduled. Right now, I can improve in all areas instead of a grinding eight week camp, which has my focus on one guy, one style…right now is training overall and I think sometimes is better that way.”
Knowing that he can always improve, he is focused on winning the flyweight tournament when his opponent is decided; Ian McCall and Demetrius Johnson will have their rematch on June 8th after fighting to a draw in Sydney, Australia last month.
“I think I need to work on my wrestling really, it is my base and I want that to be a dominant force for me in a fight. It is good to have knockout finishes and submissions; holding a guy on the ground and hitting him fifty times though is good too…speed is something else I think I can work on, you look at a guy like ‘Mighty Mouse’ he is super fast, I have my goals set and will use them to get my belt and keep improving afterwards.”
Training teammates for their fights as well as helping Faber train for his upcoming rubber match with foe and current UFC bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz is a main focus for the Sacramento southpaw, “Faber and Cruz do not like each other but they do respect each other. If I can help Urijah train to get his belt, that’s what I am going to do and at the same time help him beat Cruz in the competition as well.”
