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Benavidez to Fight Yamamoto at DREAM
Almost two years after a cancelled plane flight changed his life,
Joseph Benavidez
(Pictures) learned he will fulfill a
dream. On Monday, Benavidez (7-0) announced he will fight Japan's
Norifumi "Kid"
Yamamoto (Pictures) at Heiwa DREAM 5 in Osaka, Japan
on July 21.
"It's pretty exciting," he said. "I've been wanting to fight in Japan since I started fighting. And I'm fighting the best fighter I could ask for at this weight class other than maybe Miguel Torres (Pictures)."
The inclusion in DREAM is a step up for Benavidez, who most recently in the Palace Fighting Championships.
"Big-time," he said.
Benavidez signed a two-fight deal with the Japanese organization. Depending on the outcome against Yamamoto (17-1), he could compete in a grand prix.
The fight is the tangible result from a chance meeting with Urijah Faber (Pictures). While visiting a friend in Sacramento, Benavidez hoped to meet Faber. But Faber's "gym -- Ultimate Fitness -- was closed and Benavidez attempted to fly home to New Mexico. But he learned his flight was cancelled and elected to stay two more days.
"I went to his gym and told Faber I wanted to be a fighter and asked him if he'd grapple with me," Benavidez said. "He was reluctant. I work at the gym now, so I understand why. Every day we get guys coming in saying they are fighters."
Asked to roll with a Brazilian jiu-jitsu class, Benavidez showed enough potential to eventually earn an invite to Faber's camp. He moved to Sacramento a few months later.
"It's been great," he said. "Just the caliber of my training partners has helped me get better."
"It's pretty exciting," he said. "I've been wanting to fight in Japan since I started fighting. And I'm fighting the best fighter I could ask for at this weight class other than maybe Miguel Torres (Pictures)."
The inclusion in DREAM is a step up for Benavidez, who most recently in the Palace Fighting Championships.
"Big-time," he said.
Benavidez signed a two-fight deal with the Japanese organization. Depending on the outcome against Yamamoto (17-1), he could compete in a grand prix.
The fight is the tangible result from a chance meeting with Urijah Faber (Pictures). While visiting a friend in Sacramento, Benavidez hoped to meet Faber. But Faber's "gym -- Ultimate Fitness -- was closed and Benavidez attempted to fly home to New Mexico. But he learned his flight was cancelled and elected to stay two more days.
"I went to his gym and told Faber I wanted to be a fighter and asked him if he'd grapple with me," Benavidez said. "He was reluctant. I work at the gym now, so I understand why. Every day we get guys coming in saying they are fighters."
Asked to roll with a Brazilian jiu-jitsu class, Benavidez showed enough potential to eventually earn an invite to Faber's camp. He moved to Sacramento a few months later.
"It's been great," he said. "Just the caliber of my training partners has helped me get better."
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