Probably could have before. Now I feel like he’d have to drain himself to get to smw. Could still beat all those guys you mentioned
He always looked to me like he could and has been talking about it for ages. But I guess if he coulda we woulda. Like TFU said might weaken him now days.
Today he beats these three at 168, 175, whatever. I think if you give Benavidez a little more time, 2-3 years, that becomes a really appealing matchup (probably at LHW).
Bivol looks tiny at 175lb and he doesnt have the power to take the top guys out... He looked a weight class lower that Craig Richards in his most recent fight. I would like to see him drop to 168lbs as I think so long as he wasnt weight drained he would carry more power at that weight.