




In the other corner will be the No. 8 contender, Elliott, whose self described "awkward" style and strong chin make him an intriguing challenger.

But Benavidez and Elliott compete in the 125-pound flyweight division, the UFC's lightest and newest weight class, which has seen somewhat of a lag in popularity since its inception in 2011. While UFC president Dana White insists that the division is still merely "in the building phase" in terms of popularity, the quicker, more technical flyweights have had a hard time garnering attention.


"It's hard for people to get behind something new," Benavidez said. "The skill level is no different [when compared with other weight classes]. Look at how long the division has been around and you can see we're growing in respect and notoriety."

Elliott sees a cultural dimension as well.



"Right when I first saw him, I thought 'I like this kid,' " Benavidez said about Elliott. "He has a style that is really fun. I love that he's always going forward and putting on an exciting fight."


"I'm happy to fight good guys and I'm proud to fight guys like Joseph Benavidez," Elliott said.  "He's going to be faster than I am; he's probably going to be more explosive and athletic. But I bring something different to the table that a lot of guys can't prepare for, and that's awkward movements. It should be a great fight."