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Joseph Benavidez announces retirement from UFC and MMA

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Joseph Benavidez, UFC flyweight and multiple-time title challenger, has decided to end his Mixed Martial Arts career. The top brawler is hanging the gloves up for good, as he told Marc Raimondi of ESPN.

In July, the 37-year-old Benavidez, who has lost his last three fights, said that he wanted to quit after a win. However, that win did not come, which seems to be the last straw for the fighter who now looks to ride off into the sunset.

Joseph Benavidez Talks Retirement

Benavidez last stepped into the Octagon in March this year against Askar Askarov. Where he lost via decision. The fighter’s last win came in 2019, against Jussier Formiga.

“I knew I wasn’t going to fight anymore, but I kept muddling through a little bit,” Benavidez began, discussing why he has now decided to end his MMA career and leave the combat game.

Benavidez would also allude to a possible return later down the line; “You never know. But the time has come, and I’m going to stop.”

Joseph Benavidez made his professional MMA debut in 2006. The flyweight great leaves the sport with 36 fights to his name, which includes 26 UFC contests. He fought four times for the UFC flyweight title and unfortunately could not capture the belt during his time with the top MMA promotion in the world.

UFC events are available to watch via ESPN PPV in the United States and BT Sport in the United Kingdom. MMA fans in the UK can also watch Bellator on BBC iPlayer.

Jake Skudder
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Jake Skudder
Jake is an SEO-minded Combat Sports, Gaming and Pro Wrestling writer and successful Editor in Chief. He has more than ten years of experience covering mixed martial arts, pro wrestling and gaming across a number of publications, starting at SEScoops in 2012 under the name Jake Jeremy.