Benavidez eyes revenge vs. Figueiredo: 'I definitely don't like him'

Joseph Benavidez is heading into his rematch against Deiveson Figueiredo with some added fuel.

The longtime flyweight contender is scheduled to meet Figueiredo for the vacant title in the UFC Fight Night main event Saturday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The two first squared off in February, with Figueiredo winning via second-round TKO.

That fight was supposed to be a bout for the vacant belt, but no one walked away with the title because Figueiredo missed weight for the contest.

Benavidez said Thursday he bears ill will toward his opponent after the Brazilian downplayed the impact of his miss on the result of the fight, as well as the significance of an accidental collision of heads moments before Figueiredo's TKO finish.

"I don't like him," Benavidez told members of the media, according to Sherdog. "And that is rare for me. It's not personal, because I don't really know him personally and everything. But I definitely don't like him. It definitely makes you want to go out there and hurt someone worse. ... I just want to put this guy away. I just want to shut him up."

The 35-year-old said he's only felt this way about two other opponents over his career: WEC standout Miguel Torres in 2010 and then-future UFC champion Henry Cejudo in 2016. Benavidez beat both opponents.

"That's a pretty good track record for that feeling, I think," Benavidez said. "It's nothing crazy emotional. It's just like, you're actually fighting a guy you don't like."