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Gabriel Benítez (born June 15, 1988) is a Mexican mixed martial artist. He was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 1,[3] and he competes in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[1]
| Gabriel Benítez | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 June 1988 Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico |
| Other names | Moggly |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Weight | 70 kg (154 lb; 11 st 0 lb) |
| Division | Featherweight Lightweight |
| Reach | 71 in (180 cm)[1] |
| Fighting out of | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico[2] |
| Team | American Kickboxing Academy |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 35 |
| Wins | 23 |
| By knockout | 9 |
| By submission | 10 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Losses | 12 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 5 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Benítez was born in Tijuana, Mexico and started training in mixed martial arts when he was 18 years old.[1]
Early career
Benítez started his professional MMA career in 2007, making his debut in his home country Mexico and he amassed a record of 16–4 prior to signing with the UFC.[4]
The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 1
Benítez was selected as one of the cast members for The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 1, UFC The Ultimate Fighter TV series,[3] under Team Cain Velasquez in April 2014.[5]
In elimination round, Benítez submitted Diego Rivas via rear-naked choke in round 2.[6] Benítez next faced Leonardo Morales in the semifinals and he lost by unanimous decision.[7][8]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Benítez made his promotional debut on November 15, 2014, at UFC 180 against Humberto Brown.[9] He won the first UFC win via guillotine choke in round 3.[10][11][12]
He next faced Clay Collard on June 13, 2015, at UFC 188. He won via unanimous decision with 30-27 across the board[13][14]
On his third appearance for UFC fight, Benítez took on Andre Fili on November 21, 2015, at UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Gastelum.[15] He lost the fight via KO in round one.[16][17][18]
On September 17, 2016, Benítez face Sam Sicilia at UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Johnson.[19] He defeated Sicilia via guillotine choke in round two.[20][21]
Benítez faced Enrique Barzola, the featherweight champion of “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 2, on May 13, 2017, at UFC 211.[22][23] After three rounds fight, the judges awarded the win to Barzola with 29-28 across the score board.[24][25]
Benítez faced Jason Knight on December 9, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 123.[26] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[27]
Benítez faced Humberto Bandenay on May 19, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 129.[28] He won the fight via knockout due to a slam and punches just 39 seconds into the first round.[29] This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus.[30]
Benítez faced Sodiq Yusuff on August 17, 2019, at UFC 241.[31] He lost the fight via knockout in round one.[32]
Benítez was expected to face Lerone Murphy on March 21, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Edwards.[33] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was eventually postponed.[34]
Benítez faced Omar Morales on May 13, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira.[35] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[36]
Benítez was scheduled to face Justin Jaynes on November 14, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos.[37] The fight was canceled after Benítez tested positive for COVID-19.[38] The pairing was left intact and eventually took place on December 5, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 19.[39] He won the fight via technical knockout in the first round.[40] This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.[41]
Benítez was scheduled to face Jonathan Pearce on May 1, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 23.[42] However, weighing in over 4 pounds during weigh-in, the bout was cancelled.[43]
Benítez faced Billy Quarantillo, replacing Herbert Burns on July 17, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 26.[44] He lost the fight via technical knockout in round three.[45] This win earned him the Fight of the Night award.[46]
Benítez was scheduled to face T.J. Brown on January 15, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 32.[47] Three days before the event, Benítez was forced to pull out and Charles Rosa replaced him with the bout now taking place at Lightweight.[48]
Benítez faced David Onama on February 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Hill. At weigh-ins, Benítez weighed in at 148 pounds, 2 pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined 30% of his purse.[49] Benítez lost the bout via first round knockout.[50]
Benítez faced Charlie Ontiveros on August 13, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 41.[51] He won the fight via technical knockout in round one.[52]
Benítez was scheduled to face Jim Miller on February 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 219.[53] However, Benítez withdrew due to an undisclosed reason and was replaced by Alexander Hernandez.[54]
Benítez faced Jim Miller on January 13, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 234.[55] He lost by face crank submission in the third round.[56]
Benitez faced Maheshate Hayisaer, replacing Anshul Jubli on April 27, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 55.[57] He lost the fight by split decision.[58]
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Humberto Bandenay and Justin Jaynes[30][41]
- Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Billy Quarantillo[46]
- Ultimate Warrior Challenge
- Ultimate Warrior Challenge Featherweight Champion (One time)
- Xtreme Kombat
- Xtreme Kombat Featherweight Champion (One time) vs. Antonio Ramirez
- Xtreme Fighters Latino
- Xtreme Fighters Latino Featherweight Champion (One time) vs. Daniel Salas
- Xplode Fight Series
- Xplode Fight Series Featherweight Champion (One time) vs. Ryan Bixler
| 35 matches | 23 wins | 12 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 4 |
| By submission | 10 | 3 |
| By decision | 4 | 5 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 23–12 | Maheshate Hayisaer | Decision (split) | UFC on ESPN: Nicolau vs. Perez | April 27, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 23–11 | Jim Miller | Submission (face crank) | UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2 | January 13, 2024 | 3 | 3:25 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 23–10 | Charlie Ontiveros | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Cruz | August 13, 2022 | 1 | 3:35 | San Diego, California, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
| Loss | 22–10 | David Onama | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Hill | February 19, 2022 | 1 | 4:24 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (148 lb) bout; Benítez missed weight. |
| Loss | 22–9 | Billy Quarantillo | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Makhachev vs. Moisés | July 17, 2021 | 3 | 3:40 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Featherweight. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 22–8 | Justin Jaynes | TKO (knee to the body and elbows) | UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori | December 5, 2020 | 1 | 4:06 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 21–8 | Omar Morales | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira | May 13, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
| Loss | 21–7 | Sodiq Yusuff | TKO (punches) | UFC 241 | August 17, 2019 | 1 | 4:14 | Anaheim, California, United States | |
| Win | 21–6 | Humberto Bandenay | KO (slam) | UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Usman | May 19, 2018 | 1 | 0:39 | Santiago, Chile | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 20–6 | Jason Knight | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega | December 9, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Fresno, California, United States | Knight was deducted one point in round 1 for biting Benítez's fingers. |
| Loss | 19–6 | Enrique Barzola | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 211 | May 13, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 19–5 | Sam Sicilia | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Johnson | September 17, 2016 | 2 | 1:20 | Hidalgo, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 18–5 | Andre Fili | KO (head kick and punches) | The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale: Magny vs. Gastelum | November 21, 2015 | 1 | 3:13 | Monterrey, Mexico | |
| Win | 18–4 | Clay Collard | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 188 | June 13, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Win | 17–4 | Humberto Brown | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC 180 | November 15, 2014 | 3 | 0:30 | Mexico City, Mexico | Brown was deducted one point in round 2 due to repeated hits to the groin. |
| Win | 16–4 | Angelo Sanchez | Decision (unanimous) | Orthrus Promotions: Triple A MMA 5 | May 29, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 15–4 | Rey Trujillo | TKO (punches) | Fresquez Productions: Havoc | December 6, 2013 | 2 | 3:25 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | |
| Loss | 14–4 | Richard Villa | Submission (heel hook) | Jackson's MMA Series 11 | August 10, 2013 | 1 | 0:52 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | |
| Loss | 14–3 | Rigo Oropeza | Submission (guillotine choke) | Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico 13 | March 2, 2013 | 1 | 0:19 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 14–2 | Antonio Ramirez | KO (punches) | Xtreme Kombat 17 | September 21, 2012 | 1 | 1:48 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Win | 13–2 | Ryan Bixler | TKO (punches) | Xplode Fight Series: Hunted | May 19, 2012 | 1 | 1:24 | Valley Center, California, United States | |
| Win | 12–2 | Jorge Lopez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico 12 | March 24, 2012 | 2 | 3:12 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 11–2 | Daniel Salas | Decision (unanimous) | Xtreme Fighters Latino | May 26, 2011 | 5 | 5:00 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Win | 10–2 | Raul Bellereza | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico 9 | March 26, 2011 | 1 | 3:29 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 9–2 | Manuel Ramos Gallareta | Submission (kimura) | Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico 5 | November 28, 2010 | 1 | 1:03 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 8–2 | Tito Castro | TKO (punches) | Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico 4 | November 28, 2009 | 2 | 2:15 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 7–2 | Shawn Major | Submission (armbar) | Ultimate Challenge Mexico 12 | October 3, 2009 | 1 | 0:39 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 6–2 | Shawn Major | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico 2 | May 30, 2009 | 1 | 2:13 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 5–2 | Kyle Olsen | Submission (guillotine choke) | Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico 1 | February 28, 2009 | 1 | 1:24 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Loss | 4–2 | Yaotzin Meza | Decision (unanimous) | Noche de Gladiadores | May 24, 2008 | 3 | 3:00 | Hermosillo, Mexico | |
| Win | 4–1 | Alan Mar | Submission (guillotine choke) | Ultimate Challenge Mexico 6 | April 19, 2008 | 3 | 2:04 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 3–1 | Dominic Gutierrez | Submission (armbar) | Tijuana Municipal Sports Institute: No Way Out | April 19, 2008 | 1 | 2:31 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Loss | 2–1 | Emilio Chavez | Decision (unanimous) | Cage of Fire 10 | November 24, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexico | |
| Win | 2–0 | Tomas Huerta | KO (punches) | Ultimate Challenge Mexico 4 | November 10, 2007 | 1 | 0:00 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 1–0 | Martin Perez | Submission (armbar) | Ultimate Challenge Mexico 2 | July 28, 2007 | 2 | 0:00 | Tijuana, Mexico |
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