Beginning life as a front desk representative for Urijah Faber’s Team Alpha Male, Joseph Benavidez has achieved the impossible by becoming one of the most well-paid fighters in the UFC currently.
It is mainly due to his work ethic and never say die attitude that has got the Texas native this far and will continue to do so.
Also, Benavidez holds the record for most wins and knockouts in the UFC’s flyweight division and is ranked no.2 in the division mentioned above.
How did Joseph become a top fighter? What is his secret to success? Is it hard work? Or is it pure luck? The following article deals with the previously mentioned questions and his net worth, salary, stats, achievements, and family.
Have a look at some quick facts before we jump into the deep end.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Joseph Rolando Benavidez |
| Birth Date | 31 July 1984 |
| Birth Place | San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A |
| Nick Name | Joey Two Times |
| Religion | Not available |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Latin |
| Education | Not available |
| Horoscope | Not available |
| Father’s Name | Not available |
| Mother’s Name | Not available |
| Siblings | Not available |
| Age | 37 years old |
| Height | 5’4″ (1.63 m) |
| Weight | 57 kg (125 lbs) |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Net Worth | $ 3 million |
| Division | Flyweight |
| Married | Yes |
| Girlfriend | None |
| Spouse | Megan Olivia |
| Profession | Mixed Martial Arts |
| Reach | 65 inch (165 cm) |
| Style | Wrestling, Boxing, Muay Thai |
| Team | Elevation Fight Team, Team Alpha Male (Former) |
| UFC Flyweight Rank | 2 |
| MMA Record | 28-6-0 |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter, Facebook |
| Merch | Autographed Cards, Gloves, Shorts |
| Last Update | July, 2022 |
Joseph Benavidez’s Childhood and MMA Career
Benavidez’s MMA career began with Team Alpha Male, which is owned and run by Urijah Faber, one of the most well-known UFC fighters.
Faber decided to give Joseph a front desk job at his gym after he impressed the members and instructors at Urijah’s Roseville gym.
The Texan won his first fight with the team by guillotine choke over Junya Kodo. World Extreme Cagefighting swooped in and signed Benavidez as a result.
Joseph made his WEC debut at WEC 37, where he defeated Danny Martinez by unanimous decision.
After some ups and downs with the WEC, the 36-year-old was finally given a title shot against then-bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.
The fight was especially important to Benavidez because it was not only a title match, but Cruz had defeated him by unanimous decision a year before.
As a result, Joseph had to prove to the world and himself that he was a worthy champion. Unfortunately, the 35-year-old was defeated once more, this time by a split decision.
As a result, Benavidez was devastated because he had never lost to the same fighter twice. Many observers thought Benavidez was a good fighter with a big heart, but not an elite one.
But, as it turned out, it was only the beginning for the self-proclaimed “Joey twice.”
The UFC Journey
In the world of MMA, a significant incident occurred in 2010 that forever changed Benavidez’s life. World Extreme Cagefighting merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in an unexpected turn of events. As a result, all WEC fighters were now under UFC contract.
As a result, Benavidez was now fighting for the world’s top MMA promotion, UFC. Following that, in his UFC debut, the Texas native defeated Ian Loveland via unanimous decision.
Following his breathtaking performances, UFC president Dana White announced a four-person tournament to crown the newly formed UFC Flyweight Championship, in which Benavidez would compete.
As a result, he won the first fight but was unable to defeat the god-given talent of Demetrious Johnson for the championship.
Nonetheless, Joseph bounced back, winning the next two fights before facing Jussier Formiga at UFC Fight Night 28.
During the first round of the fight, Benavidez knocked out Formiga with a brutal knee to the body that dropped Jussier to his knees. Also, Benavidez followed that with a flurry of punches, resulting in the victory.
As a result, the UFC determined that a rematch between Joseph and Johnson would be the best matchup for the championship. The fight was originally scheduled to take place at The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale, but it was moved to a later date.
The 36-year-old had never been stopped until his second fight with Johnson. Demetrius knocked out the Texan native in the first round of the championship rematch.
Henry Cejudo vs. Joseph Benavidez
At this point, most of us would have given up or lost hope, but not Joseph. In fact, he recovered and went on to win the next five fights with ease.
Henry Cejudo, an Olympic gold medalist at the time, had successfully transitioned from wrestling to MMA. Cejudo had already established himself in the UFC as a top contender for the flyweight championship.
Following that, the two met at The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale. Both fighters landed some powerful punches and kicks throughout the fight. They were unable to complete the task, so the judges were summoned to make a decision.
Benavidez won the fight on a split decision after a close fight. Finally, the 36-year-old defeated one of the title’s top contenders. A feat that had previously eluded him.
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Joseph Benavidez
Over the next two years, the Texas native re-established himself as the leading contender for the flyweight title.
And his efforts were rewarded when Dana White announced that Benavidez would compete for the vacant UFC Flyweight Championship against Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Fight Night 169.
As a result, the event was held on February 29, 2020, at Chartway Arena in Virginia. The fight, however, was not without controversy, as Figueiredo came in at 127.5 pounds, exceeding the weight limit.
If he won, the Brazilian MMA fighter would be ineligible to defend his flyweight title. And, to Benavidez’s horror, that is exactly what happened. Figueiredo landed a right hook plum in Joseph’s chin.
As a result, the 35-year-old fell to the ground, where Deiveson pounded the Texas native until the referee intervened and the fight was called off.
Joseph stated after the fight that it was the most devastating loss of his MMA career. Furthermore, Benavidez believed that this would be his last chance at the title.
The Texas native was understandably upset and angry with himself for his poor performance, but vowed to return even stronger.
To summarize, Benavidez remains one of the best flyweight fighters in the UFC in my opinion. I believe the 35-year-old has one more championship run in his aging body. Let us all hope that I am correct for the sake of Joseph.
Career Achievements
Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Knockout of the Night vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani
- Performance of the Night vs. Tim Elliott, Alex Perez and Jussier Formiga (Three Times)
- Most wins in the UFC Flyweight division (13 times, tied with Demetrious Johnson)
- Most knockout wins in the UFC Flyweight division ( 5 Times)
World Extreme Cagefighting
- Fight of the Night vs. Dominick Cruz
- Submission of the Night vs. Miguel Torres
Sherdog
- All-Violence Second Team 2010
Joseph Benavidez’s age, height, and weight
Benavidez is currently 35 years old. Although he appears to be too old to be a professional athlete, MMA fighters often reach their peak form in their mid-30s.
As a result, Joseph has another five years to fulfill his dream of becoming the UFC Flyweight Champion.
Joseph Benavidez’s height?
The Texas native stood 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 125 pounds during his most recent fight. The petite MMA fighter is extremely agile and quick on his feet.
Furthermore, Benavidez is built to outlast his opponents rather than knock them out. It’s primarily because of his wrestling and jiu-jitsu background.
Joseph Benavidez’s Salary and Net Worth
At the time of writing, Benavidez’s net worth was estimated to be more than $3 million, with MMA fights being the primary source. It is a substantial sum of money, especially for MMA fighters who live paycheck to paycheck.
However, as the UFC’s number two ranked flyweight fighter, Benavidez more than justifies the amount he is paid.
Furthermore, Joseph earned a whopping $250,000 for his most recent fight against Deiveson Figueiredo, including all promotional and fight-night bonuses.
Previously, the Texas native was paid a base salary of $48,000 plus bonuses.
However, for his outstanding performances in 2018-19, the UFC decided to nearly double Benavidez’s pay to $84,000. In addition, his career earnings to date total $831,000.
Background or Past for Joseph Benavidez
As talented as he is, Joseph Benavidez has had his share of difficulties. His past is often a taboo subject, but he has shared some bits and pieces over the years.
To elaborate, Joseph comes from a family with a history of drinking or drug abuse. Furthermore, as a child, he was accustomed to seeing people imprisoned and his family arrested. He is also the first member of his family to avoid prison.
Later, while he and his brothers were competing in the UFC, they were arrested. As a result, he received little support from them.
Joseph, like his family, struggled with drug and alcohol addiction during his high school years.
“I just knew I didn’t want to live that life anymore, and I didn’t necessarily think I was going to turn it around and be a fighter on the cover of magazines.” That’s just what happened as a result of my efforts to improve my life.”
-Benavidez, Joseph
He did, however, have his moment in the spotlight. That is why he has come today!
Family and Lifestyle of Joseph Benavidez
You will be with a beautiful woman if you can fight and have a lot of money. That is the case with Joseph Benavidez, the UFC’s second-ranked flyweight.
The Texas native is married to Megan Olivi, who works as a UFC host and reporter for Fox Sports. The couple met in Las Vegas in the summer of 2009 and began dating in 2010. However, four years later, in front of family and friends, the couple got engaged.
The couple married on October 9, 2015, at the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort and Spa. As of now, the couple has yet to have a child.
But I suppose the two are waiting for the right moment, which could be when Joseph retires from MMA. Because Joseph is an MMA fighter, one might assume that his entire focus is on training and nothing else.
Benavidez, on the other hand, devotes a significant amount of time to fashion. The Texas native is known for his eccentric dressing and is one of the best-dressed fighters in the UFC, alongside Conor Mcgregor.
Social Media Presence
Instagram (@joejitsu): 145k followers
Facebook (Joe Jitsu MMA): 36,000 followers
Twitter (@JoeJitsu): 151.9k followers
Joseph Benavidez: FAQs
Is Joshep Benavidez in Kingdom?
Although it’s unsure if Joseph Benavidez is on Kingdom, however, he did show up in episode one of season two.
How much was Joseph Benavidez’s reported payout?
Back when Joseph Benavidez faced Deiveson Figueiredo, they had the reported payout of $945,000 for that event. Back then, Figueiredo paid $45,000 after failing to make the required weight for his fight.
Is Joseph Benavidez retired?
No, Joseph Benavidez hasn’t retired yet. However, many have taken account of his retirement stating their own opinions. All in all, Joseph has no comments or intention bout his retirement yet.
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