Joseph Benavidez to rematch Dominick Cruz for Bantamweight title

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/6/8/1508403/joseph-benavidez-will-rematch




Joe would be a p4p fighter at 125, but he is just too small for Cruz who quite literally cruised to a decision victory against him just last year. Joe will have to upgrade his explosiveness in a big way to make up for his reach and footwork disadvantages. Few ways for Joe to win this fight.

this is what i initially thougt would happen should make a great fight

Cruz takes another decision from him.

Ya 50-45 across the board. There was a guy on the PPV who was also good for 125. They need to open the division.

absorb the LW division and open a 125 division in WEC..

agreed. And im looking forward to the rematch.

125 should be more of a priority than any crusierweight talk. Especially if Zuffa would like to break into Japan. 125 would be more Japanese fighters than all other weight classes probably combined.

Absorb the WEC in general

Figured this fight was a given, Cruz will take it again, before losing his belt to Faber

I think the WEC is trying to quickly get Benavidez out of the way here. Have him lose to Cruz again, he is out of the title picture for the foreseeable future, Faber steps in.

Certainly a Benavidez win would be a major wrench in the plan, but Im with most in thinking that that is highly unlikely. We certainly saw nothing in the first fight to suggest that will happen, and as a small 135er against a big tall 135er, the chance of Bena landing a big bomb is super slim. I think Cruz wears him down, and finishes him later in the fight.

There is conflict of interest here regarding Faber. The reason he moved down is to win that belt. Back of his mind he can not want his team mate to win this.

captain organic wrote:

I think the WEC is trying to quickly get Benavidez out of the way here. Have him lose to Cruz again, he is out of the title picture for the foreseeable future, Faber steps in.

Certainly a Benavidez win would be a major wrench in the plan, but Im with most in thinking that that is highly unlikely. We certainly saw nothing in the first fight to suggest that will happen, and as a small 135er against a big tall 135er, the chance of Bena landing a big bomb is super slim. I think Cruz wears him down, and finishes him later in the fight.

There is conflict of interest here regarding Faber. The reason he moved down is to win that belt. Back of his mind he can not want his team mate to win this.

A Benavidez win is even better. You have a legit rivalry then. They would be split 1-1 and both guys would have held the belt. IMO that is the best senario for the division.

SOONERS I hate to rain on your parade but Faber has already beaten Cruz once, and for a title. Faber is also the face of the promotion.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

SOONERS I hate to rain on your parade but Faber has already beaten Cruz once, and for a title. Faber is also the face of the promotion.

And? There is room for him at the top. But you can't tell me that a Cruv-Benv 3 wouldn't be a good thing. Let me think what can we do with Faber to keep him buisy? Hmmm Torres? Sure it doesn't have the pop is once had but still something people would be interested in IMO. We would have plenty of interesting storys at that WC.

I smell what your cooking, but a Faber-Cruz 2 probably does close to as many viewers as both a Cruz-Benavidez 2 and 3 combined.

Also, if Cruz wins a competitive fight, looks like we have yet another rivalry right? That is probably more likely that Joe winning, imo.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

I smell what your cooking, but a Faber-Cruz 2 probably does close to as many viewers as both a Cruz-Benavidez 2 and 3 combined.

Also, if Cruz wins a competitive fight, looks like we have yet another rivalry right? That is probably more likely that Joe winning, imo.

Sounds like we have alot of good options at that WC no matter what happens. Plenty of interesting story lines out there. That will be a fun divison to keep an eye on.

Nah they want Benavidez out of the title picture at 135. Cruz Bena 3, or Faber Cruz 2? WEC wants the latter. As wolf said, he is the poster boy.

Now, maybe they set up Faber Torres(cause if Faber gets the belt, Torres may never reach that level to challenge Faber) while Bowles gets a rematch vs Cruz for the title. And maybe there you'll get you're 1-1 scenario, but I have to believe they want Cruz go 2-0 vs Bena.

Like I said, win-win for WEC. Either way there are plenty of interesting fights and stories at that divison.

Joe is a marketable fighter. Yes the UFC/WEC would like their most marketable guys as titlists but in the end they just want the best fighters winning, because that is what attracts the real fans.

Joe already helped his name by beating Torres. If he beats Cruz next time around and then beats Faber, I think plenty of people will know who he is.
But really with Faber, Torres, Cruz and Joe we have alot to look forward to in this division. We just get to sit back, see what happens and enjoy.

Good fight. Wastes no time getting Benavidez out of the title picture to avoid conflicts with Urijah Faber...assuming Joe B loses...which is definetly not a given though Cruz was in control of their fight despite how close Frank Mir made it seem.