Mexican mixed martial artist
Gabriel Benítez (born June 15, 1988) is a Mexican mixed martial artist. He was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 1,[3] and he competes in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[1]
Background
Benítez was born in Tijuana, Mexico and started training in mixed martial arts when he was 18 years old.[1]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Benítez started his professional MMA career in 2007, making his debut in his home country Mexico and he amassed a record of 16–4 prior to signing with the UFC.[4]
The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 1
Benítez was selected as one of the cast members for The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 1, UFC The Ultimate Fighter TV series,[3] under Team Cain Velasquez in April 2014.[5]
In elimination round, Benítez submitted Diego Rivas via rear-naked choke in round 2.[6] Benítez next faced Leonardo Morales in the semifinals and he lost by unanimous decision.[7][8]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Benítez made his promotional debut on November 15, 2014, at UFC 180 against Humberto Brown.[9] He won the first UFC win via guillotine choke in round 3.[10][11][12]
He next faced Clay Collard on June 13, 2015, at UFC 188. He won via unanimous decision with 30-27 across the board[13][14]
On his third appearance for UFC fight, Benítez took on Andre Fili on November 21, 2015, at UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Gastelum.[15] He lost the fight via KO in round one.[16][17][18]
On September 17, 2016, Benítez face Sam Sicilia at UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Johnson.[19] He defeated Sicilia via guillotine choke in round two.[20][21]
Benítez faced Enrique Barzola, the featherweight champion of “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 2, on May 13, 2017, at UFC 211.[22][23] After three rounds fight, the judges awarded the win to Barzola with 29-28 across the score board.[24][25]
Benítez faced Jason Knight on December 9, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 123.[26] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[27]
Benítez faced Humberto Bandenay on May 19, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 129.[28] He won the fight via knockout due to a slam and punches just 39 seconds into the first round.[29] This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus.[30]
Benítez faced Sodiq Yusuff on August 17, 2019, at UFC 241.[31] He lost the fight via knockout in round one.[32]
Benítez was expected to face Lerone Murphy on March 21, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Edwards.[33] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was eventually postponed.[34]
Benítez faced Omar Morales on May 13, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira.[35] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[36]
Benítez was scheduled to face Justin Jaynes on November 14, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos.[37] The fight was canceled after Benítez tested positive for COVID-19.[38] The pairing was left intact and eventually took place on December 5, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 19.[39] He won the fight via technical knockout in the first round.[40] This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.[41]
Benítez was scheduled to face Jonathan Pearce on May 1, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 23.[42] However, weighing in over 4 pounds during weigh-in, the bout was cancelled.[43]
Benítez faced Billy Quarantillo, replacing Herbert Burns on July 17, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 26.[44] He lost the fight via technical knockout in round three.[45] This win earned him the Fight of the Night award.[46]
Benítez was scheduled to face T.J. Brown on January 15, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 32.[47] Three days before the event, Benítez was forced to pull out and Charles Rosa replaced him with the bout now taking place at Lightweight.[48]
Benítez faced David Onama on February 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Hill. At weigh-ins, Benítez weighed in at 148 pounds, 2 pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined 30% of his purse.[49] Benítez lost the bout via first round knockout.[50]
Benítez faced Charlie Ontiveros on August 13, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 41.[51] He won the fight via technical knockout in round one.[52]
Benítez was scheduled to face Jim Miller on February 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 219.[53] However, Benítez withdrew due to an undisclosed reason and was replaced by Alexander Hernandez.[54]
Benítez faced Jim Miller on January 13, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 234.[55] He lost by face crank submission in the third round.[56]
Benitez faced Maheshate Hayisaer, replacing Anshul Jubli on April 27, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 55.[57] He lost the fight by split decision.[58]
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Ultimate Warrior Challenge
- Ultimate Warrior Challenge Featherweight Champion (One time)
- Xtreme Kombat
- Xtreme Kombat Featherweight Champion (One time) vs. Antonio Ramirez
- Xtreme Fighters Latino
- Xtreme Fighters Latino Featherweight Champion (One time) vs. Daniel Salas
- Xplode Fight Series
- Xplode Fight Series Featherweight Champion (One time) vs. Ryan Bixler
Mixed martial arts record
[59]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Gabriel Benitez - Official UFC® Fighter Profile". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "Gabriel Benitez". Retrieved July 18, 2017.
- ^ a b "Cain Velasquez, Fabricio Werdum coach 'TUF: Latin America,' fight in November". MMAjunkie. 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Gabriel". Sherdog. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "Cast For TUF: 'Latin America' Revealed". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "Gabriel Benitez vs Diego Rivas Fight Result UFC - The Ultimate Figh..." www.mma-core.com. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "Leonardo Morales vs Gabriel Benitez Fight Result UFC - The Ultimate..." www.mma-core.com. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "TUF Latinoamérica: Leonardo Morales vence al Moggly". enlapelea.com. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "Humberto Brown vs. Gabriel Benitez slated for UFC 180 in Mexico City". MMAjunkie. 2014-11-08. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "Gabriel Benitez vs Humberto Brown Fight Result UFC 180 - Werdum vs..." www.mma-core.com. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "UFC fighter poops his pants, gets choked out". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "UFC 180 results: Choke-happy Gabriel Benitez finally finishes Humberto Brown". MMAjunkie. 2014-11-16. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "UFC 188 results: Mexico's Gabriel Benitez batters Clay Collard for unanimous decision". MMAjunkie. 2015-06-13. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "UFC 188 Results: Gabriel Benitez Grabs Unanimous Decision Win In A Tough Battle | BJPenn.com". | BJPenn.com. 2015-06-13. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Gabriel Benitez, Andre Fili to Clash at UFC Fight Night in Monterrey on Nov. 21". Sherdog. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "Gabriel Benitez vs Andre Fili UFC Fight Night 78 Full Fight MMA Video". MMA-Core. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "UFC Fight Night Prelims: Andre Fili Head Kick, Punches Sink Gabriel Benitez in Monterrey". Sherdog. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "WATCH: Andre Fili finishes off Gabriel Benitez with vicious combination | FOX Sports". FOX Sports. 2015-11-21. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Johnson headlines UFC Fight Night 94 in Hidalgo, Texas – The MMA Report Podcast". themmareport.com. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "Gabriel Benitez vs Sam Sicilia UFC Fight Night 94 Full Fight Part 1 MMA Video". MMA-Core. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "Gabriel Benitez Puts Stubborn Sam Sicilia to Sleep (UFC Hidalgo Fight Highlights) | MMAWeekly.com". www.mmaweekly.com. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "'The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America' vets Enrique Barzola and Gabriel Benitez meet at UFC 211 in Dallas". MMAjunkie. 2017-02-23. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Featherweights Gabriel Benitez, Enrique Barzola to Clash at UFC 211". Sherdog. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "Gabriel Benitez vs Enrique Barzola Full Fight UFC 211 MMA Video". MMA-Core. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "UFC 211 results: Enrique Barzola tops Gabriel Benitez in fun back-and-forth scrap". MMAjunkie. 2017-05-13. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ Staff (2017-10-16). "Jason Knight says he's fighting Gabriel Benitez at UFC Fight Night 123 in Fresno". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
- ^ "UFC Fight Night 123 results: Gabriel Benitez survives bite – yes, bite! – to dominate Jason Knight". MMAjunkie. 2017-12-10. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
- ^ "Humberto Bandenay vs. Gabriel Benitez added to UFC Fight Night 129". MMAjunkie. 2018-04-11. Retrieved 2018-04-12.
- ^ "UFC Fight Night 129 results: Gabriel Benitez stuns Humberto Bandenay in 39-second thriller". MMAjunkie. 2018-05-20. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
- ^ a b "UFC Fight Night 129 bonuses: Early finishes among $50,000 winners". MMAjunkie. 2018-05-20. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
- ^ Marcel Dorff (2019-06-06). "Sodiq Yusuff & Gabriel Benitez cross the stage during UFC 241 in Anaheim" (in Dutch). mmadnanl.com. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
- ^ Doherty, Dan (2019-08-17). "UFC 241 Results: Sodiq Yusuff Flattens Gabriel Benitez in First Round". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2019-12-30). "Gabriel Benitez vs. Lerone Murphy Announced for UFC London". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
- ^ Nolan King and John Morgan (2020-03-15). "UFC postpones three events amid growing coronavirus outbreak". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
- ^ DNA, MMA. "Gabriel Benitez vs. Omar Morales toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 13 mei". Retrieved 2020-05-05.
- ^ McClory, Mike (2020-05-13). "UFC Jacksonville Results: Omar Morales Earns Victory, Gabriel Benitez Boasts Nasty Injury". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- ^ DNA, MMA (2020-10-07). "Gabriel Benitez treft Justin Jaynes tijdens UFC evenement op 14 november in Las Vegas". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
- ^ "Featherweight fight between Gabriel Benítez and Justin Jaynes canceled as Benítez tested positive". Essentially Sports.
- ^ "New party attempt between Gabriel Benitez and Justin Jaynes on December 5th in Las Vegas" (in Dutch). mmadnanl.com. 2019-11-16. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2020-12-05). "UFC Vegas 16 Results: Gabriel Benitez Knee Stuns Justin Jaynes". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
- ^ a b Dan Hiergesell (2020-12-06). "Official UFC Vegas 16 bonuses: Jordan Leavitt's KO slam leads $50K winners". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
- ^ Alexander K. Lee and Mike Heck (2021-03-02). "Gabriel Benitez vs. Jonathan Pearce booked for UFC event on May 1". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
- ^ Alexander K. Lee (2021-04-30). "UFC Vegas 25 weigh-in results: Dominick Reyes, Jiri Prochazka on point, one bout cancelled after fighter misses weight by over four pounds". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
- ^ Carlos Contreras Legaspi (2021-06-08). "Gabriel Benítez to fight Billy Quarantillo at UFC Fight Night on July 17". espndeportes.espn.com. Retrieved 2021-06-08. (in Spanish)
- ^ Martin, Damon (2021-07-17). "UFC Vegas 31 video: Billy Quarantillo bloodies and batters Gabriel Benitez to earn third-round stoppage". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
- ^ a b "UFC on ESPN 26 bonuses: Miesha Tate gets extra $50,000 in return from retirement". MMA Junkie. 2021-07-18. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
- ^ DNA, MMA (2021-12-06). "Gabriel Benitez vs. TJ Brown toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 15 januari". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ Lee, Alexander K. (2022-01-12). "Gabriel Benitez out, Charles Rosa steps in on 3 days' notice to fight TJ Brown at UFC Vegas 46". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
- ^ "UFC Fight Night 201 weigh-in results: One fighter heavy, but 12-fight lineup set". MMA Junkie. 2022-02-18. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2022-02-19). "UFC Vegas 48: David Onama Launches Violent Barrage of Strikes, Finishes Gabriel Benitez". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
- ^ Behunin, Alex (2022-07-16). "Gabriel Benitez vs. Charlie Ontiveros Added To UFC San Diego On August 13". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
- ^ McClory, Mike (2022-08-13). "UFC San Diego: Gabriel Benitez Overwhelms Charlie Ontiveros". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
- ^ Farah Hannoun (2022-11-08). "UFC books Jim Miller vs. Gabriel Benitez for Feb. 18 event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
- ^ Frank Bonada (2023-02-09). "Report | Alexander Hernandez steps in on short notice to face Jim Miller at UFC Vegas 69". LowkickMMA.com. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
- ^ Newswire, MMA Fighting (2023-11-22). "UFC Vegas 84 full card confirmed with Jim Miller vs. Gabriel Benitz co-headlining". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2024-01-14). "Onward to UFC 300: Jim Miller Submits Gabriel Benitez at UFC Vegas 84". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
- ^ "Maheshate faces Gabriel Benitez at UFC Fight Night 243". Asian MMA. 2024-02-15. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ Dewar, Val (2024-04-27). "UFC Vegas 91: Maheshate Hayisaer Exits Exciting Striking Duel With Win Over Gabriel Benítez". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Gabriel". Sherdog. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
External links
- Professional MMA record for Gabriel Benitez from Sherdog
- Gabriel Benitez at UFC