UFC 128 – Joseph Benavidez dream come true to be fighting in the octagon, puzzled over Ian Loveland fight

Former WEC bantamweight title contender, Joseph Benavidez has been speaking about making his much anticipated octagon debut next weekend at UFC 128 in Newark, New Jersey, explaining it’s a dream come true for him, but did admit to being puzzled over the promotions first choice of opponent.
Speaking via MMAMania.com, Benavidez said:

“I try not to let it get to me but I’d lie if I said it wasn’t a dream come true to be in the Octagon. For the most part when I was in the WEC, I was fighting the best guys in the world and I’m in the UFC and I’m still fighting the best guys in the world, it’s just on a bigger stage.”

On his octagon debut fight against Ian Loveland, a fighter sporting a 14-7 record overall, Benavidez said:

“He was never on my radar. They (UFC) basically called me and told me this is where I’m gonna fight, this is who I’m gonna fight. Before that I only heard his name, I’ve never really seen him fight. I checked him out. He’s a really tough dude. It’s kind of funny, I remember thinking ‘I’m gonna get some kind of weird fight like that,’ because being practical and thinking from the outside in, I’m in a weird position. I’m the second best bantamweight in the world. I can’t fight the number one guy because I fought him twice for the title. I can’t go against a top contender because if I beat a top contender, they lose their legitimacy.”

“I’m just trying to take this fight by fight. I’m a practical guy. I would love to get a win over him, but I get a win over him and it’s still two wins to one. It’s like I still didn’t win the series. I think the most important thing is to get a world title.”

Benavidez rebounded from his disappointment at losing to current UFC 135 pound champion, Dominick Cruz for a second time by submitting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Wagnney Fabiano. During his time with the WEC he went 5-2 inside the cage. Loveland stepped up at short notice to make his octagon debut just last month on the season twelve finale of “The Ultimate Fighter”, defeating Tyler Toner on the night. He’s now won his last seven fights in a row.