WEC 37 Breakdown

Joseph Benavidez vs. Danny Martinez

Benavidez Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 5’8/135 lbs.
Age: 28
Hometown: Las Cruces, N.M.
Fighting out of: Sacramento, Calif.
Record: 8-0

The stakes: Already one of the world’s top bantamweight prospects, Benavidez -- a training partner and protégé of former featherweight king Urijah Faber -- has been lauded as a champion in the making in a sport known for turning blue chip prospects into mid-card gatekeepers. With a WEC contract now in hand, Benavidez must prove his mettle early on or risk turning into another can’t-miss newcomer who missed badly and was missed by no one.

The breakdown: A freakish athlete in the mold of his mentor, Benavidez uses the same non-stop motor to score takedowns and relies on ground striking and solid submission work to secure wins. Against Martinez, a talented wrestler in his own right, Benavidez will either have to gamble on his striking or rely on being the better wrestler. Either way, the expectations will be enormous for the latest MMA megastar in training.

Martinez Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 5’8/135 lbs.
Age: 24
Hometown: Tempe, Ariz.
Fighting out of: Tempe, Ariz.
Record: 12-2

The stakes: One of several physically talented converted wrestlers populating the MMA landscape, Martinez has always lacked the extra bit of polish on his game that would make him a true force with which to be reckoned. Now under the WEC banner but brought in to serve as highlight reel fodder for Benavidez, Martinez likely faces his last chance to cash in on his obvious talent.

The breakdown: Against an opponent accustomed to being physically overwhelming, the best thing Martinez can do is get takedowns early and often. A fighter like Benavidez is unaccustomed to such adversity, and putting his back against the wall could make him buckle under the pressure of the expectations hoisted upon him. Regardless, Martinez must corral Benavidez early to have a chance at the upset.


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The bottom line: Unlike the movies, taking on a better version of yourself doesn’t end well in real life, and that’s exactly what Martinez faces. Benavidez is the more talented and developed of the two, possessing the wrestling to control Martinez and the offensive firepower to put him away. Watch for Benavidez to keep the perfect record as shiny as ever by unloading a ground-and-pound barrage early for the technical knockout win.