Joel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have begun a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, under coach Nicolas Otte. The two fighters were scheduled to face each other a year ago, but the bout fell through. Now they are helping each other prepare for upcoming fights. Alvarez will face 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 arrange the training partnership and suggested that the Frenchman may be preparing for an opponent with a similar style to Alvarez's, though Saint Denis did not disclose who.
Joel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have joined forces for a shared training camp in Bayonne, France, working under coach Nicolas Otte as both fighters prepare for their respective next bouts.
Alvarez, known as "El Fenomeno," carries a 23-4 record and sits at number 12 in the lightweight division. The 33-year-old Spaniard, who stands six-foot-three with a 77-inch reach, is a high-volume striker landing 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. He also averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a genuine threat on the ground as well. Alvarez has a confirmed assignment: a lightweight bout against Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9.
Amosov, aged 32, holds an imposing 30-1 record and presents a serious grappling challenge. He averages 4.64 takedowns per 15 minutes and a remarkable 4.6 submission attempts in the same window, giving Alvarez plenty to prepare for on the mat.
Saint Denis, the ninth-ranked lightweight known as "God of War," brings a 17-3 record and a notably active skill set of his own. The 30-year-old southpaw lands 5.62 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy while also averaging 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the more complete fighters in the division. Saint Denis does not yet have an announced opponent, but Alvarez indicated it was Saint Denis who initiated the training partnership, and hinted the Frenchman may be preparing for someone with a similar style to his own, though no name has been disclosed.
Why it matters
- Alvarez faces one of the division's most dangerous submission artists in Amosov, making high-level grappling preparation essential
- Saint Denis's elite takedown volume gives Alvarez a credible training partner to simulate Amosov's wrestling-heavy approach
- A win for Alvarez at UFC 328 could push him up from 12th toward the top ten in a stacked lightweight division
- Saint Denis's unnamed opponent and stylistic hints suggest a significant matchup may be announced soon
Saturday, May 9, 2026
