Joël Álvarez and Benoît Saint-Denis have begun 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 was cancelled. Now they are training partners. Álvarez is preparing to face Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9, while Saint-Denis does not yet have a fight announced. Álvarez suggested that Saint-Denis may be facing an opponent with a similar style to his own, though Saint-Denis has not disclosed details. The Spanish fighter praised the collaboration as a top-level partnership.
Joël Álvarez and Benoît Saint-Denis have joined forces for a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, ahead of UFC 328 on May 9, with coach Nicolas Otta overseeing the collaboration.
The partnership carries an unusual backstory: the two were once scheduled to fight each other, though that bout was ultimately cancelled before it could take place. Rather than remain rivals in waiting, they have since become training partners. Álvarez, the Spanish lightweight contender, praised the arrangement as a top-level collaboration, and suggested that Saint-Denis may be preparing for an opponent whose style mirrors his own — though Saint-Denis has yet to confirm any details about a forthcoming booking.
Álvarez's focus at UFC 328 will be squarely on Yaroslav Amosov, the undefeated-in-MMA welterweight standout who carries a 30-1-0 record into the contest at age 32. The Ukrainian fighter presents a multidimensional challenge. Standing six feet tall with a 75-inch reach, Amosov generates 4.64 takedowns per 15 minutes and averages 4.6 submission attempts over the same period, making him one of the more dangerous grapplers on the roster. He also lands 2.78 significant strikes per minute at a 47 percent accuracy rate, ensuring he cannot be ignored on the feet either.
Saint-Denis, meanwhile, does not yet have an opponent announced for the card, leaving his role at UFC 328 unclear for now.
Why it matters
- Álvarez faces one of MMA's most complete fighters in Amosov, whose grappling volume and submission threat make him a uniquely difficult stylistic puzzle
- The joint camp could give Álvarez exposure to high-level wrestling and pressure, potentially mimicking what Amosov brings
- Saint-Denis's undisclosed opponent may benefit from the same camp environment if the stylistic overlap Álvarez hinted at holds true
- The cancelled bout between the two teammates adds an intriguing layer to their current alliance
Saturday, May 9, 2026
