Joseph Benavidez Quotes

Getting the title shot was huge.

An interim title is just a guarantee at a title shot. If I'm going to fight the best guys in the world, I want a guarantee that I'm going to fight for the title.

The one thing the fans wanted to see is me getting the title shot.

If you really look at the sport, when the No. 1 ranked fighter beats the No. 2 ranked fighter, the only thing that's up next for him is a title fight.

It took me 10 fights to get the damn interim title shot and then 11 to get an undisputed shot.

I think to get a title shot, you need to have some expressive winnings.

Any time you get a title shot, you always try to wait for it the best you can.

If I want to fight for a 155-pound title - if I hold the 145-pound title - give me the fight.

I want the real title. I can't express it enough that I want to fight for the real title. The interim title, from what I've seen... people get it, and then they take it away in a month. I just don't want to be that person.

You have to take the belt, and I dont give my opponents a chance to take my belt. I go out there and take away their opportunity to take my belt away from me.

There's a lot of ways to win a belt, but taking it from a champion is very important to me.

I said as soon as I got the belt, I want number one contenders.

I'd like to fight and get close to that title shot - that's all I'm interested in. My whole purpose is to fight for the world title.

I'm not worried about trying to guarantee a fight for the belt, because that's automatic; it will happen.

When it comes to a title fight, if I will fight Jon Jones one day, if he's still the champ, I will be more than ready for it. I will take home the belt.

The guys I lost to always challenged the title, because they were, like, title eliminators. I lost to Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony Johnson and they fought for the belt. Then I won fights against really tough guys.

I want to defend and put my title on the line as much as possible. If the top in the division are ready to try to come and take my belt - and the key word is 'try' - I'm ready to give them that opportunity.

I'm definitely an active champion. I'm looking forward to defending my belt as many times as possible.

I had to fight Donald Cerrone, Anthony Pettis, Gil Melendez, Rafael Dos Anjos. I had to fight these guys in order to prove myself in order to get a title shot.

I want to fight for the real belt, not the interim title.

I would love to fight anybody at the welterweight limit with a belt.

A bout between champions has to be considered a big show.

I'm a champion, I have to defend this belt.

Give Tony Ferguson a title fight. He needs it!

Canelo's the big name, but I am the champion going in... I took this fight. I'm not in a situation where I have nothing to lose in this fight. I've got a title to lose.