Benavidez vs. Johnson

This is the official discussion thread for Benavidez vs. Johnson. Let's see what you've got.

Kinda the fight everyone has been waiting to see should be very entertaining to watch but I think Benavidez has got this one covered.

Benavidez should win easy.

Benavidez vs McCall would have been awesome but I've wanted to see this fight since the WEC was around. Benavidez has better wrestling and more punching power and that should win him the fight.

IM GONNA SEE THIS **** LIVE GODDDDAM! 

I see a 5 round war. 

WAR JOE BI WAN KENOBI 

If both come in top shape, there is little reason why Benavidez loses. He is the better striker, the better grappler, and has more power. Neither has been finished, and both have great chins and sub defense, so I think the most likely outcome will be Benavidez via decision. Should be an awesome fight.

Im gonna go with Benavidez too, I think it will be a 5 round war but Benavidez will pull off the decision

Benavidez domination

I agree MMA4LIFE00. I would have rather seen McCall vs Benavidez, I thought Ian won that first fight but gassed early in the 2nd bout. I think Joe should win this won handily.

JB by whatever he wants. And then maybe Dana will see that it's time to do some recruiting. Flyweight prospects abound.

Mighty Mouse had a harder road in the tournament and I think he's going to be hungrier.

I'm thinking this is going to be a close fight... Mighty mouse can steal some rounds with takedowns.

Benavidez will take this fight quite handily, but due to MM's toughness and losses only via decision, Benavidez via UD is probably the most accurate prediction.

This is an amazing fight, quite possibly the first 5 rounder I am actually hoping to see go the full 25. Got my tickets ready for this event, pumped. 

mighty mouse will run away fro 25 minutes as usual still PISSED because Mccall got screwed in first mouse fight

Benavidez is definitely going to be the bigger/stronger fighter coming into this fight, but Mighty Mouse's speed and overall wrestling ability could prove to cause problems for Joseph. Both fighters train with great camps and bring a lot to the table. This fight all comes down to who is more prepared, puts together the better gameplan and executes, and who really wants it more.

1. Mental Edge/Confidence/Gameplan - I honestly believe that both fighters are dead even in this category. Both fighters were championship contenders at 135, and went the distance with current UFC BW Champion Dominick Cruz. JB won his last fight against Yasuhiro Uru****ani, got knockout of the night honors, and he trains with a great camp over at Team Alpha Male, so you know that he will also have a good gameplan coming into this fight. As for MM, he trains with a great camp as well with AMC Pankration, he won a very tough fight against one of the greatest flyweights on the planet in Ian "Uncle Creepy" McCall, and he has not had an easy road anywhere in the WEC or UFC. Sporting wins over Miguel Torres, "Kid" Norifumi Yamamoto, and Damacio Page is an impressive resume at BW, and with his win against Ian McCall at flyweight, his road to getting a title shot definitely has not been an easy one. I have no doubt in my mind that both fighters will come into this fight both 100% mentally and physically prepared as they possibly can be. JB - 10/10, MM - 10/10

2. Experience/Level Of Opposition - Both fighters have 18 fights to their credit, and have a resume of fighting the who's who at 135 and 125. Johnson definitely had a tougher road getting this shot at the UFC Flyweight Championship, when you look at both fighters' resumes it pretty safe to say that both fighters have faced a great stable of fighters. JB - 9/10, MM - 9/10

3. Heart/Determination To Win - Both fighters have a tremendous heart and fighting spirit. The word "quit" and the phrase "give up" does not exist in either fighters' vocabulary. Neither fighter has been KO'd or submitted in their respective careers. Another category where I have to call this dead even. JB - 10/10, MM - 10/10

4. Stamina/Cardio - There is no doubt that either fighter will have any problems going a 5 round distance. JB - 10/10, MM - 10/10

5. Endurance/Toughness - Both fighters can take a punch and endure a lot of punishment. The question is here, is who can take the better shot, and who can absorb the most punishment and still be an effective fighter? I think I have to call this subject dead even again because I've seen both fighters do just that. JB - 10/10, MM - 10/10

6. Overall Striking - Demetrious Johnson is not really known for his striking power. He has sound kickboxing skills, great movement, good technique, and great speed, but Benavidez has knockout power, great boxing skills of his own, and good movement. If I had to pick who I think would win this fight by KO it would be Joseph Benavidez. With that in mind, the advantage goes to Benavidez. JB - 9/10, MM - 8/10

7. Overall Wrestling/Grappling - Both fighters have good wrestling and grappling skills. Both fighters victories over Miguel Torres are proof of this. At any given point and time, either fighter can take a fight to the ground to score points and achieve the upper hand. I think that both fighters are evenly matched in this area, but because of Benavidez's size and strength, I will give him the advantage here. JB - 9/10, MM - 8/10

8. Overall Submissions/BJJ - Both fighters have submission victories on their resumes. Benavidez with 8 to his credit and Johnson with 6, but JB has had the more impressive submission victories. Most of Johson's submission victories happened outside the UFC/WEC, while Benavidez has had 2 submission victories since coming to the UFC/WEC. I really don't think that either fighter is going win by submission in this fight, though this is what both fighters have won the majority of their fights by, but if I had to pick a winner by submission, it would be Benavidez. JB - 10/10, MM - 9/10

9. Strength/Size - Joseph Benavidez definitely has the size and strength advantage coming into this fight. JB - 10/10, MM - 8/10

10. Speed/Athleticism - There is no doubt in my mind that Demetrious Johnson is the fighter with the better speed and athleticism. In fact, Johnson has won fights on his heart and speed alone. JB - 8/10, MM - 10/10

Overall Score = Joseph "Beefcake" Benavidez - 95/100, Demetrious "MIghty Mouse" Johnson - 92/100 

Benavidez will win a decision, and Rogan will tell us all how fast Mighty Mouse is.

I got Benavidez in this one. I was hoping for Benavidez vs McCall in the finals so I hope Joe absolutely stomps MM for ruining that for me.

This should be a very close fight. I'm leaning towards picking Benavidez in this one