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 that bout fell through. Now they are helping each other prepare for upcoming fights. Alvarez is scheduled 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 arrange the training partnership and suggested that the Frenchman may be preparing for an opponent with a similar style to Alvarez's, though no specific details were shared.
Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint-Denis have joined forces for a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, working under coach Nicolas Ott as both men prepare for their respective next assignments in the UFC lightweight division.
The pairing carries a notable backstory. The two were originally booked to fight each other roughly a year ago, though that bout never materialized. Saint-Denis initiated the current arrangement, reaching out to Alvarez to set up the partnership. Alvarez has suggested the collaboration may hint that Saint-Denis is preparing for an opponent who shares a similar fighting style, though no further details have been confirmed.
Saint-Denis, nicknamed "God of War," enters the camp ranked ninth in the lightweight division at 30 years old. The French southpaw carries a 17-3 record and brings considerable all-around pressure to training, averaging 5.62 significant strikes landed per minute at an impressive 58 percent accuracy, while also posting 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes. He does not yet have an announced opponent for his next outing.
Alvarez is the fighter with a confirmed date on the horizon. He is scheduled to meet Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9. Amosov is a formidable opponent, holding a 30-1 record at 32 years old. The orthodox grappler stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach and is a persistent threat on the ground, averaging 4.64 takedowns and 4.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Alvarez faces one of the division's most dangerous grapplers in Amosov, making a high-level training partner like Saint-Denis a logical choice for preparation.
- Saint-Denis's unannounced opponent and the style-matching hint add intrigue to the camp's broader purpose.
- Both fighters are working within a stacked lightweight division where rankings movement carries significant weight.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
