JOSEPH BENAVIDEZ

ATTRIBUTES

OFFENSIVE SKILLS

DEFENSIVE SKILLS

ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES

DUCKING LEFT/RIGHT HOOK

Level 2—Both Standing, Striking Range

Benavidez has excellent hand speed—throw these technique strikes to batter his opponents with powerful ducking blows. Try comboing between them to pile on the damage.

SUPLEX TO SIDE CONTROL, TOP

Level 2—Double Underhook, Offense

Though his takedowns are excellent, “Joe B-Wan” can quickly reach dominant ground position by first entering the Double Underhook clinch, then throwing his opponent to land in Side Control.

DIRECT CATCH TO GUILLOTINE CHOKE

Level 3—Sprawl, Top

Benavidez has great takedown defense and can apply a nasty guillotine when he manages to stuff the opponent’s shots. Go for this choke to end the fight fast.

STRENGTHS

• Conditioning

• Speed

• Training camp

A long-standing member of Team Alpha Male, Joseph “Joe B-Wan Kenobi” Benavidez is a tremendous athlete with great heart and fantastic technique.

Use his blistering hand speed to stun the opponent with crisp striking combos on the feet, then shoot for a takedown to score points on the floor with some punishing ground-and-pound.

Benavidez is a monster while on top, utilizing solid grappling control to achieve and maintain dominant top position, and then employing strong ground striking to punish the bottom opponent with vicious blows.

“Joe B-Wan” also has excellent takedown defense, coupled with a nasty guillotine choke from positions such as Open Guard Cage, Bottom and Sprawl, Top that can quickly end a rival’s night.

Look to lock in this crushing choke whenever the chance permits—it’s by far Benavidez’s best sub.

WEAKNESSES

• Kicks

• Ground bottom grappling

• Submissions

Though his striking game is fast and effective, “Joe B-Wan” prefers to use his hands a little too much, and suffers from a lack of kicking strength.

Elusive opponents have been able to exploit this in the past, keeping Benavidez at the end of their rangy punches and kicks to outpoint him from the outside.

While Joseph is dangerous on top on the ground, he’s less effective while trapped on bottom. Try working for trips and throws in the clinch instead of shooting for takedowns, however, as being caught in a sprawl puts you in danger of being choked out.

Once you get “Joe B-Wan” down, strive to keep him away from the cage, where he can also apply his trademark choke. Do this by avoiding ground clinch positions—posture up and hammer away with big, heavy strikes to the body and head from the top.

Work Joe over on the ground to wear him down and secure a TKO or decision victory.