Joël Álvarez and Benoît Saint-Denis have started a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, under coach Nicolas Otta. The two were scheduled to fight each other a year ago, but the bout fell through. Now they are working together, with Álvarez set to face Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9. Saint-Denis does not yet have a fight announced. Álvarez suggested that Saint-Denis may be preparing for an opponent with a similar style to his own, though no details were confirmed.
Joël Álvarez and Benoît Saint-Denis have joined forces for a shared training camp in Bayonne, France, working under coach Nicolas Atta ahead of UFC 328 on May 9.
The pairing carries a certain irony: the two were booked to fight each other roughly a year ago before the bout fell through. Now they are preparing side by side rather than across from each other. Álvarez has a confirmed assignment at UFC 328, where he will face undefeated welterweight contender Yaroslav Amosov. Saint-Denis does not yet have an opponent announced, though Álvarez hinted the Frenchman may be sharpening his game against someone who mirrors his own fighting style — a detail that remains unconfirmed.
Amosov enters the bout carrying an imposing 30-1-0 professional record at 32 years of age. The orthodox Ukrainian stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach and brings a well-rounded threat to the cage. He averages 4.64 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 4.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him one of the more dangerous grapplers in the division. He also produces 2.78 significant strikes landed per minute at 47 percent accuracy, meaning opponents cannot afford to ignore his hands while defending the takedown.
Why it matters
- Álvarez faces one of the division's most complete grapplers in Amosov, giving the shared camp a clear tactical purpose if Saint-Denis offers a stylistically similar challenge in training.
- A win for Álvarez over a fighter with just one professional loss would carry significant ranking weight in the welterweight division.
- Saint-Denis's next booking remains the outstanding question; his camp situation suggests a fight announcement could come soon.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
