Longtime top UFC flyweight Joseph Benavidez has staked his claim for a title shot against the man he already has a win over - Henry Cejudo.

Benavidez (27-5) got the nod via split decision against Cejudo back in December 2016, long before Cejudo claimed the title as “Triple C.” More recently Benavidez has put together a string of wins in a shallow UFC flyweight division to rightfully stake his claim for a title shot.

Talking to Submission Radio, Benavidez explained why he deserves the next shot against Cejudo.

“You look at the number one guy at bantamweight, which would be Aljamain Sterling. And you look at the number one guy in flyweight, which would be me and Formiga. And having me come out of that, I make more sense than anybody right now,” Benavidez said. “Nobody else has history with Cejudo – and not only history, a win over him. So that’s what makes the most sense, is no one can say they’ve got a win over him. That last win, he has to avenge that loss.”

Before he jumps the gun on things, Benavidez will have to get past Jussier Formiga at UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Dos Santos on June 29th before he can eye a rematch with Cejudo. The 34-year-old already holds a TKO win over Formiga dating back to 2013. Despite winning eight of last nine UFC appearances, Benavidez hasn’t fought for the flyweight title since December 2013.

“They’re calling me Joey ‘Two Times’ because I’m having to beat everybody twice, including in the future Cejudo once I get that fight after this one,” Benavidez said. “Having to get past Formiga, like, I have to do everything twice.

“So, yeah, I mean, the motivation, it’s not anything crazy, it’s nothing romantic, it’s what we do, it’s our job. You know, they call us to fight, they call us in to work. That’s what you do. You don’t fear any man, you don’t take any shortcuts, you don’t take any easy routes.”

UFC on ESPN 3 takes place on June 29th at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The card will be headlined by a heavyweight fight between Francis Ngannou and Junior dos Santos.