Joel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have begun a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, under coach Nicolas Otta. The two fighters were scheduled to face each other a year ago, but that bout never materialized. Alvarez is set to fight Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9, while Saint Denis does not yet have an announced opponent. Alvarez revealed that Saint Denis reached out to him, and they agreed to train together, speculating that Saint Denis may be preparing for an opponent with a similar style to his own.
Joel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have joined forces for a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, working under coach Nicolas Otta as both men prepare for their respective next bouts ahead of UFC 328 on May 9.
Alvarez, known as "El Fenomeno," enters the camp riding a 23-4-0 record and sitting ranked 12th in the UFC lightweight division. The 33-year-old Spaniard stands six-foot-three with a 77-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance for Bandog Fight Club. He produces an impressive 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, and his submission game is a consistent threat at 1.1 attempts per 15 minutes. His task at UFC 328 is a matchup with Yaroslav Amosov, who carries a 30-1-0 record and averages 4.64 takedowns and 4.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes — making him one of the more dangerous grapplers Alvarez has faced.
Saint Denis, the ninth-ranked lightweight nicknamed "God of War," holds a 17-3-0 record and brings elite grappling pressure of his own, averaging 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes while also generating 5.62 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. The 30-year-old southpaw stands five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach. He does not yet have an announced opponent for UFC 328. Alvarez revealed that Saint Denis initiated the arrangement, and suggested his training partner may be preparing to face someone who resembles Alvarez's own fighting style.
The two had previously been scheduled to meet each other in competition, though that bout never came to fruition, making the collaborative camp an interesting turn in their rivalry-that-wasn't.
Why it matters
- Alvarez faces a severe grappling test in Amosov, making Saint Denis's elite wrestling a valuable training tool
- Saint Denis's unannounced opponent may share stylistic traits with Alvarez, lending the camp mutual benefit
- A win for Alvarez over Amosov could push the 12th-ranked lightweight significantly up the divisional ladder
Saturday, May 9, 2026
