Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have begun a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, working under coach Nicolas Ott. The two fighters were scheduled to face each other a year ago, but the bout was cancelled. Now they are helping each other prepare for their respective upcoming fights. Alvarez will compete against Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9, while Saint Denis does not yet have a fight announced. Alvarez stated that Saint Denis contacted him to arrange training together and believes the French fighter may be preparing for an opponent with a similar style to his own, though Saint Denis has not revealed who his next opponent will be.
Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have set aside what could have been a rivalry to join forces at a training camp in Bayonne, France, working under coach Nicolas Ott ahead of their respective next bouts.
The two lightweight contenders were originally booked to fight each other roughly a year ago before that matchup fell apart. Now they are sharing a gym, with Alvarez explaining that Saint Denis reached out to arrange the collaboration. Alvarez believes the French fighter may be preparing for an opponent who carries a similar style to his own, though Saint Denis has kept the identity of his next opponent under wraps and no fight has been officially announced for him.
Alvarez's own assignment is confirmed: a welterweight clash against Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9. Amosov, 32, carries an imposing 30-1-0 record and presents a serious grappling threat, averaging 4.64 takedowns and 4.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes. The orthodox fighter stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach.
Saint Denis, ranked ninth in the UFC lightweight division, brings a dynamic, high-output game to the training partnership. The 30-year-old southpaw from France is 17-3-0 and lands 5.62 significant strikes per minute at an accuracy rate of 58 percent, while also contributing on the mat with 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes. His 180-centimeter frame and 185-centimeter reach make him a well-rounded sparring resource for Alvarez as both men fine-tune their preparation.
Why it matters
- Alvarez faces one of the most dangerous submission grapplers on the UFC roster in Amosov, making high-level wrestling simulation essential in camp
- Saint Denis, ranked inside the lightweight top ten, brings elite striking volume and takedown ability that closely mirrors the threat Amosov poses
- The arrangement underlines the increasingly common trend of cross-promotion training partnerships and could sharpen both fighters heading into pivotal outings
Saturday, May 9, 2026
