Joseph Benavidez vs. Timothy Elliott official for UFC 172 in Baltimore
A flyweight bout between Joseph Benavidez (19-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and Timothy Elliott (10-4-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is the latest addition to April’s UFC 172 lineup.
UFC officials today announced the bout.
UFC 172 takes place April 26 at Maryland’s Baltimore Arena. The night’s main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Benavidez vs. Elliott is likely to be part of the main card. It’s a pivotal 125-pound matchup; Benavidez is ranked No. 2 and Elliott is No. 9 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA flyweight rankings.
Benavidez is on a solid 7-2 run, but both of the losses came to reigning flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson. The latest title loss came in his most recent bout, where he suffered a first-round flash knockout to the champ at UFC on FOX 9. Prior to the setback, the Team Alpha Male fighter had reclaimed No. 1 contender status with a decision victory over Ian McCall and TKO wins over Darren Uyenoyama and Jussier Formiga.
Meanhwile, Elliott’s title hopes were briefly derailed following a decision loss to fast-rising contender Ali Bagautinov at UFC 167. Prior to the setback, the Missouri-based Grindhouse MMA fighter was on a 10-1 run that included UFC victories over Jared Papazian (in a “Fight of the Night†performance) and Louis Gaudinot.
The latest UFC 172 card includes:
Champ Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira – for light-heavyweight title
Jake Ellenberger vs. Tarec Saffiedine
Joseph Benavidez vs. Timothy Elliott
Joe Ellenberger vs. Yancy Medeiros
Andre Fili vs. Max Holloway
Bethe Correia vs. Jessamyn Duke
