Joseph Benavidez was 16-2, on a four-fight win streak capped by a Knockout of the Night, when he first fought for the UFC title. But he lost a Split Decision to Demetrious Johnson for the inaugural flyweight belt. That was in 2014.

Benavidez bounced back with three more wins, and challenged Johnson again, but was knocked out in 2:08 of Round 1. He then went 8-1, losing only to Sergio Pettis via Split Decision; wins included Henry Cejudo. Again after a streak capped by a Fight of the Night winning performance, Benavidez got his third title shot, in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 27 on February 29, 2020, but was TKOed in Round 2. However, opponent Deiveson Figueiredo was ineligible for the title, as he missed weight; the championship remains vacant.

In the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 30, Benavidez gets a rematch with Figueiredo, and a fourth shot at the belt. 

It’s kind of weird because I thought I was going to win the title but I thought if I lose, this is definitely my last title shot, said Benavidez to Damon Martin for MMA Fighting. Circumstances made it otherwise. It’s really the same going into the last one. I don’t think it’s as romantic as the last one was because everything was kind of perfect in the last one.

It was romantic, third time’s the charm, coming off my knee surgery, I was on a really, really good streak of knockouts going into that fight. I think it was just perfect. But the belt would have still felt the same to me.

[Winning the belt] is obviously important. It’s all that you want when you fight, but the title itself is still an object. It’s all the other stuff. It’s me accomplishing a goal. It’s a big one. I feel like if I was to win it, I’d be like finally, I was supposed to do this last time or I was supposed to do this eight years ago.

It’s going to feel just as good when you get it because that’s something you dream about when you start fighting.

What do you think UG? Who wins?