Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint-Denis have begun a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, under coach Nicolas Ott. The two fighters were scheduled to face each other a year ago, but the bout never materialized. Alvarez is scheduled to fight Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9, while Saint-Denis does not yet have an announced fight. Alvarez mentioned that Saint-Denis contacted him to arrange training together and believes the Frenchman may have an upcoming bout against an opponent with a similar style to his own, though Saint-Denis has not revealed the opponent's identity.
Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint-Denis have joined forces for a shared training camp in Bayonne, France, working under coach Nicolas Ott ahead of their respective upcoming commitments.
The collaboration carries an unusual backstory: the two were once booked to fight each other, though that bout fell through before it could take place. According to Alvarez, it was Saint-Denis who reached out to propose the joint camp. Alvarez also suggested that Saint-Denis may be preparing for an opponent with a stylistic profile similar to his own, though the Frenchman has kept that potential matchup under wraps.
Saint-Denis, ranked ninth in the lightweight division at 30 years old, carries a 17-3-0 record and brings a physically punishing game to the cage. The southpaw stands five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach and is one of the more active grapplers in the division, averaging over four takedowns per fifteen minutes. He also lands significant strikes at a rate of 5.62 per minute at 58 percent accuracy, making him a threat across all phases.
Alvarez is scheduled to face Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9. Amosov, 32, owns a commanding 30-1-0 record and is a serious grappling threat in his own right, averaging 4.64 takedowns and 4.6 submission attempts per fifteen minutes. The six-foot Orthodox fighter with a 75-inch reach has demonstrated elite control throughout his career, though his striking output sits at a more measured 2.78 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Alvarez gets a training partner whose physical dimensions and grappling tendencies may closely mirror Amosov's style, offering useful preparation for May 9.
- Saint-Denis, currently without a scheduled bout, appears to be targeting a specific opponent whose identity remains unconfirmed.
- A ninth-ranked lightweight sharpening his tools suggests Saint-Denis is eyeing a return that could have real divisional implications.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
