ROUNDTABLE: Prediction's for UFC 152's Flyweight Championship bout between Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson

Who will become the first UFC Flyweight Champion, Demetrious Johnson or Joseph Benavidez? And how do you think the fight will play out.


JAMIE PENICK, MMATORCH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Benavidez is the more dangerous fighter with a wider array of skills. Johnson has good wrestling, good speed, and he's capable of avoiding damage. However, Benavidez can hang with him from a speed standpoint, has better cardio, hits harder, has great submissions, and can hit things out of nowhere on his opponents. He has many more ways to win this fight, and is simply the better fighter overall. I think he'll take advantage of a slightly slower Johnson by the fourth round of the fight, and capture the first ever Flyweight Title in UFC history by submission.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I think Benavidez wins a razor close decision. Benavidez has the power, but Johnson is relentless in coming forward. I think it's a very close 48-47 decision for Benavidez. I think it's so close that an immediate rematch wouldn't surprise me one bit.


BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

I don't have a doubt in my mind that Joseph Benavidez is going to clean Mighty Mouse's clock. I am a huge fan of both fighters but Benavidez is just so overly talented and powerful for the weight class that I fully expect him to manage a KO or TKO finish, because against Johnson if you don't finish him you risk losing a hair close decision in the end.


ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I have only picked one of Johnson’s last four fights correctly. I did pick him to lose to Dominick Cruz, but I am tired of being wrong. Demetrious Johnson is well-rounded and has a great chin. I think Johnson wins this one by a razor close decision. This should be a great fight.


DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR

Smart money is on Joseph Benavidez and my money is on him to win a comfortable decision. Johnson is very good and well rounded; but Benavidez is that little bit better, everywhere. I can see all five rounds going to Benavidez, and if he’s really on form, he’s got every chance of ending the fight early.

I think it could be a very long time before someone takes that Flyweight title from Benavidez. He’s got the talent too dominant at that weight class for a long time to come. Until the roster adds more depth, most likely through UFC fighters dropping weight; my crystal ball doesn’t envisage anyone at 125 lbs. beating him.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/roundtables/article_14427.shtml

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