San Diego, CA – The move up to lightweight went was a successful one for Gabriel Benitez when he defeated Charlie Ontiveros via TKO at UFC San Diego on Saturday night.
“Fighting close to my home, Tijuana, I feel the whole support of my hometown right? I’m happy! I can’t say anything. I feel happy for this win,” Benitez said.
Lightweight is a tough division to compete in, but it’s one that Benitez believes he belongs in.
“I want to stay in 155 right now,” he said.
The fight played out like most fans expected with both men throwing power shots, but Ontiveros threw a lot of spinning attacks that Benitez would have to deal with.
“I know this guy is kind of a taekwondo style. Is kind of weird, right? When you’re more striker and technical it’s difficult. This guy throw a lot of kicks and I expected but it was so fast. When I ate a couple of them I don’t feel too much damage. Then when I start laughing I go forward,” said Benitez.
“I feel like switching weight class that helps a lot. If I’m fighting 145 maybe I feel dizzy or something like that.”
Watch the entire post-fight media scrum with Gabriel Benitez above.
