Sean Shelby reveals Joseph Benavidez not guaranteed next title shot

Joseph Benavidez may have raised many eyebrows with his impressive victory over former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres at WEC 47, but it might not have been enough to guarantee him a shot at the newly crowned division champion Dominick Cruz just yet.

Speaking to Sherdog.com, WEC matchmaker Sean Shelby had the following to say regarding the 135lb title picture:

“[Benavidez] can get a title shot now. I think there's a great argument for him to get one. When Dominick Cruz comes back will factor in immensely. I think Benavidez recognized that since his loss to Cruz and the last two times out he's really making a case. The problem with that is, and I'm not a big rematch guy especially on the championship level, if a guy is going to rematch a guy you as the public and me as the matchmaker have to believe there might be a different outcome.”

“Their games might have evolved. They might have completely different attitudes and that's what I have to believe before I'm going to give someone a rematch. If I went down the list, Torres is still in the mix, but you do have Benavidez, Valencia, Banuelos and Page and Gomez and Wineland and even Wagnney Fabiano is out there along with Scott Jorgensen and Pickett. Long story short, either way, whether Cruz is coming right back I don't think I'll have a problem and I don't think the public will complain who he's fighting next.”

Benavidez, currently in possession of a very respectable 12-1 record, has made it clear he would like to avenge his only defeat – to the new champion back at WEC 42 in August 2009 – and get the title shot he feels he now deserves. Shelby, it appears, is keeping his cards close to his chest when it comes to Dominick Cruz’s next challenger. Although Benavidez has made a solid argument to be that man, only time will tell whether the two will lock horns for the WEC bantamweight title in the near future.

By Steve Davies