Many have tried, but none have conquered.
Chad Mendes, Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez have all had their shot at UFC gold and have come up short. On Saturday night at UFC on FOX 9, Benavidez will get his second crack at Demetrious Johnson’s flyweight championship.
Can Joseph Benavidez become Team Alpha Male’s first UFC champion?
Rewind to July 2, 2011 – The long-time WEC featherweight champion and Team Alpha Male founder Faber was on a two-fight winning streak since dropping to the 135-pound weight class and earned a crack at UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz. The UFC 162 main event was a fan favorite and and won ‘Fight of the Night’ and even though Faber’s camp believed he won the bout, Cruz retained his gold.
The next Alpha Male fighter to get his opportunity to become the top of his weight class was “Money” Mendes. In January 2012, after going 11-0 in his professional career, Mendes took on Jose Aldo in the main event at 142. After a back and forth first round, Aldo landed a brutal knee that finished Mendes with just one-second left in the very first round.
After a ‘Submission of the Night’ award at UFC 139 against Brian Bowles, Faber earned another shot at the title. With Cruz injured, “The California Kid” and Renan Barao fought for the Interim Bantamweight Championship at UFC 149 in Calgary. Barao battered Faber’s legs with kicks and in the end took home a unanimous decision victory.
At the end of the flyweight tournament two men were left standing – “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and Team Alpha Male fighter Benavidez. At UFC 152 the two fought for the inaugural flyweight championship, with Johnson coming out on top with a split decision victory.
“Joe B-Wan Kenobi” impressed in his last two performances, finishing Darren Uyenoyama and Jussier Formiga by knockout, and three wins later has earned another shot at one of the best champions in the organization.
In order for the master of “Joe-Jitsu” to defeat “Mighty Mouse” he will have to implement an amazing game-plan. Since Duane Ludwig took over coaching duties at Team Alpha Male, the Sacramento squad has come up on the winning side more often than not.
Johnson has looked unbeatable in his two title defenses – earning a unanimous decision against John Dodson and a late fifth round submission against John Moraga. The game-plan to beat the champ has to be to throw more strikes in general. With Ludwig in his corner he will cut angles, double and triple up on the jab, and keep Johnson backed up against the fence.
So in the main event at UFC on FOX 9, the pressure will be even more-so on the shoulders of Benavidez, as he will look to break the “Alpha Male curse”.
