Benitez picks Knight apart for unanimous decision win
Gabriel Benitez delivered as promised.
After vowing to stage a striking-heavy affair opposite Jason Knight, the 29-year-old kept his word and picked the Mississippi scrapper apart to take UFC Fight Night 123's featherweight co-main event by unanimous decision in Fresno, Calif. on Saturday.
Benitez atoned for a July decision loss to Enrique Barzola and improved his promotional record to 4-2 with the one-sided verdict.
DOMÍNIO TOTAL! No co-main event do #UFCFresno, Gabriel Benitez vence Jason Knight por decisão unânime (30-26, 30-26 e 29-27). Benitez manteve a luta em pé, dominou na trocação, surpreendeu o favorito e garantiu a vitória. pic.twitter.com/1OZmjLLX9r
— Octógono UFC (@OctogonoVirtual) December 10, 2017
The bout wasn't without a couple of hiccups, as Knight was docked a point in the first round for inadvertently biting Benitez while angling for a takedown and later poked him in the eye. Otherwise, Benitez schooled Knight from start to finish, scoring with combinations and inside leg kicks at will, darting in and out of range and shucking off Knight's telegraphed attempts to bring the fight to the mat, to secure scores of 30-26, 30-26, and 29-27.
Knight has now lost two straight after mounting a four-fight win streak from July 2016 to May of this year.