Demetrious Johnson says current crop of challengers “good,” but not as good as Joseph Benavidez or John Dodson

“The top dogs, I’ve beat them already. Now, I’m fighting the guys who, they’re good guys, but they’re not a Joseph or a Dodson… I think now the UFC is all about selling cards; it’s not about having the best fight the best. [I’m] not saying Henry Cejudo’s not the best, but Joseph Benavidez has beat the top-tier guys… Anything’s possible in the UFC. [Benavidez] said it best – ‘it’s a hard sell, but I won five fights in a row.’ Obviously, he didn’t get the chance to go against Hendry Cejudo. Joseph might have beat Henry, or Henry might have beat Joseph, and you can’t throw all the guys to the big sharks… It breaks my heart to see John Dodson went up to bantamweight because I would love to see Joseph vs. John. I thought that would have been a great matchup. But it is what it is. We’ll see what the UFC wants to do, but I’m focused on Henry Cejudo.”

-UFC Flyweight Champ Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson talks to MMAJunkie.com about why the challengers he’s currently facing aren’t necessarily at the level of fighters he’s dispatched previously.

Penick’s Analysis: It’s an endorsement for Benavidez, and a sign that he could potentially get the third fight with Johnson he’s been hoping for soon enough. If Johnson gets through Cejudo in April, it’s absolutely possible the UFC books the third Johnson-Benavidez bout. Benavidez has clearly established himself as the second best guy in the division behind the champ, and unless Johnson gets moved up to bantamweight for the rematch with Dominick Cruz he’s talked about, there isn’t another more deserving challenger at the moment. Having the champ on his side in that regard can’t hurt.

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