UFC 192 results: Joseph Benavidez grinds out win over Ali Bagautinov

HOUSTON -- It wasn't the most impressive performance of Joseph Benavidez's career Saturday night, but it still goes into the record books as a victory.

Benavidez got the best of Ali Bagautinov in their flyweight contest at Toyota Center, earning a pair of 30-27s and a 29-28 for his fourth consecutive victory.

"You guys can boo me," Benavidez (23-4) told a jeering crowd. "But he's a tough guy. You go in there and fight him."

The bout was a cat-and-mouse standup game, as Benavidez largely pushed forward, and Bagautinov, in his first bout since a suspension for blood doping, seemed content to keep his distance and occasionally counter.

And while Bagautinov (13-4) landed a few times, including a shot which opened a nasty cut near Benavidez's left eye in the first round, Benavidez kept his cool and patiently sealed the win.

Benavidez stays in his odd spot in the flyweight division. He's 23-0 in his career with the exception of a pair of losses each to Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson. He'll continue working toward a third shot at Johnson, the flyweight champ.

"The division's great," Benavidez said. "The champion's amazing, one of the best fighters. He has me pushing harder in the gym, fighting to get back at a guy who's as good as Mighty Mouse."