Joseph Benavidez vs. Timothy Elliott set for UFC 172 in Baltimore

UFC officials announced today that a flyweight tilt between Joseph Benavidez (19-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and Timothy Elliott (10-4-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is the latest addition to April’s UFC 172 event in Baltimore, Maryland.

Joseph Benavidez has gone 6-2 in the UFC, but has yet to solve the riddle that is UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson. “Mighty Mouse” first defeated Benavidez by decision at UFC 152 in Toronto, in a bout that would crown the UFC’s first-ever Flyweight champion.

The Team Alpha Male fighter, Benavidez, would rebound in a big way, stringing together 3-straight wins over opponents Ian McCall, Darren Uyenoyama and Jussier Formiga to reclaim the #1 contender status.

However, in his rematch with Johnson at the UFC on FOX 9 event, Benavidez would lose all the momentum he had built-up, as he suffered a second loss to the champ, this time by first-round KO.

Meanhwile, Tim Elliott is coming off a loss to rising flyweight contender Ali Bagautinov at November’s  UFC 167 event in Las Vegas. Prior to his loss to Ali, Elliott had put together a 10-1 run which included UFC victories over Jared Papazian and Louis Gaudinot.

The UFC 172 event takes place on April 26 live from Maryland’s Baltimore Arena. The evenings main card will air on pay-per-view, with the prelims airing live on FOX Sports 1.

UFC 172 is headlined by a light heavyweight title bout between current champion Jon Jones and number 1 contender Glover Teixeira.

Who do you have winning this key flyweight bout? Let’s hear it Penn Nation!

By Chris Taylor