Joseph Benavidez praises Henry Cejudo following big win, calls for rematch

At UFC Brooklyn, the flyweights put on the exact type of performances that they needed to in the hopes of saving their division from being removed from the UFC.

Obviously, in the event’s headliner, we saw the champion Henry Cejudo fend off the bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw by earning a TKO win in just 32 seconds.

However, just a few fights prior to that we saw the last man to defeat Cejudo, Joseph Benavidez, make it 2-0 against Dustin Ortiz.

It was an exciting wrestling heavy matchup that Benavidez would get the better of and keep showing why the flyweights deserve to stay.

Having had their differences prior to their fight in December 2016, The Ultimate Fighter season 24 coaches have found respect for each other following the first encounter. And Benavidez says his respect for the champ only increased after his big win.

“No matter what was said between us before this battle I gained so much respect for Henry after our fight! Watching his performances and seeing what he’s done for this division (the one that I’ve been fighting for since it’s beginning) I have only gained more respect!
Henry – other weight classes will be there but ours is still not certain. We have the power now more then ever to keep it moving forward and bring the respect it/we deserve!
We represented for the flyweights that whole TUF season and delivered in our fight! (One of the hardest of my life and I know you feel the same) and we also did that on Saturday in Brooklyn! I want that belt, I was the first person to ever fight for that belt and I know the competitor in you wants to try to avenge the loss to me on your record! But like you said it is bigger then us … if you believe that to be true then this is the only option to keep this division moving forward, for all the current contenders, up and comers and the thousands dreaming right now of becoming the UFC Flyweight Champion. @henry_cejudo” Benavidez wrote on Instagram.

Benavidez walked away as the victor against Cejudo in a very exciting and closely contested matchup the first time around. With two additional rounds, Benavidez’ lingering hunger for UFC gold, and Cejudo’s drastic improvements since, who knows how a rematch could play out.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 1/22/2019