Benji Radach plans on 2009 return, possible EliteXC title shot

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

While the stunning performance that opened up the recent "EliteXC: Heat" broadcast has since become a footnote to the controversy surrounding the evening's main event, middleweight slugger Benji Radach (19-4) may still benefit from the win.

While a guest on a recent episode of TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmmajunkie.com), Radach said he may be in line for a title shot in early 2009.

"[EliteXC] hasn't given me a straight-up answer yet," Radach said. "But they're kind of hinting back and forth between getting [a title shot] right off the bat and also maybe fighting Scott Smith beforehand."

Radach said that if granted, the shot would come early next year.

"It would be 2009," Radach said. "I think February."

Despite having just one fight for EliteXC, Radach debuted in stellar fashion. Leading off the Oct. 4 CBS broadcast, the 29-year-old outlasted former EliteXC middleweight champion Murilo "Ninja" Rua in a shootout.

"It was tough," Radach said of his bout with Rua. "That guy was just a tough dude. He took a lot of shots. He was giving them right back.

"I threw down so hard that first round that I really had to sit in the back seat that second round and let him dictate the pace for a minute so I could get my wind back, then hopefully pull it off in the end of the round -- or at least win the end of the round. It worked out for me."

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