Joseph Benavidez: I'm not going out like that

In the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 30, Joseph Benavidez had his fourth, and he believes final, UFC title shot. Joe B Wan Kenobi lost hard to Deiveson Figueiredo, and talked about it in a highly emotional post-fight press conference interview.

I’ve died freaking 100 times, said Benavidez. What’s another death? It’s different because I know I did everything right in preparation. I didn’t take any shortcuts. I did everything right. … I felt good in there, honestly. I felt focused and present even with the no crowd. Fights go fast but I could see little movements felt focused.

[I’m] overall just grateful for life. To do it and to be able to do this is a blessing in itself. That’s just on the fight side. I’m grateful for the opportunities and be able to do it. I came in at two in the morning. It’s dark and I walk out and it’s light before I go to the bathroom. Now, I’m taking punches to the face at six in the morning. It’s funny to hear that but I’m grateful that I’m capable to do that.

I knew last fight was my last title attempt. It wasn’t because of circumstances so this one certainly was. I wasn’t fighting in this sport from the beginning for any other reason than being the best. I’ve been close. I’ve been lucky. I’ve been in that top two or three for 11 years at two weight It’s been a crazy journey. It’s been awesome.

I’m not going out like that and nothing is guaranteed in this sport for sure, but I’m not going to get another title shot. I don’t want to go out on that, so I just want to go out with another fight. After that, there’s nothing else for me to do. I’m not going to beat 10 guys again. I know that was my last title shot but like I just said don’t want to go out on that.