“That was always the top martial artist - the Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt. Once I started beating them, I knew I had what it takes to form a new martial art. That's when I came up with Joe Jitsu, my namesake, so my legacy lives forever through the martial arts.”

American former mixed martial artist

Joseph Rolando Benavidez is an American former professional mixed martial artist. He competed in the bantamweight division in World Extreme Cagefighting and spent most of his career in the flyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Benavidez is known for his time across those major promotions and for competing at the lighter weight classes in mixed martial arts. His recorded remarks on this site reflect the language of an athlete whose career was built in a demanding, technical sport.