Spanish lightweight Joël Álvarez has begun a joint training camp with Benoît Saint-Denis in Bayonne, France, under the guidance of coach Nicolas Ott. The two fighters were previously scheduled to face each other a year ago, but the bout never materialized. Now they are helping each other prepare for their respective upcoming fights. Álvarez is set to face Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9, while Saint-Denis does not yet have an announced opponent. Álvarez mentioned that Saint-Denis contacted him to arrange the training partnership and suggested the Frenchman may be preparing for an opponent with a similar style, though Saint-Denis has not revealed details.
Spanish lightweight Joël Álvarez has traveled to Bayonne, France, to begin a joint training camp alongside Benoît Saint-Denis ahead of UFC 328 on May 9, with both men working under the direction of coach Nicolas Ott.
The pairing carries an interesting backstory: the two fighters were previously scheduled to meet inside the octagon roughly a year ago, though that bout never came to fruition. According to Álvarez, it was Saint-Denis who reached out to arrange the training partnership. Álvarez has suggested the Frenchman may be gearing up for an opponent with a stylistically similar profile, though Saint-Denis has kept his own fight details under wraps.
Álvarez enters UFC 328 with a matchup against Ukrainian welterweight-turned-lightweight Yaroslav Amosov, who carries an imposing 30-1-0 professional record at 32 years of age. Standing six feet tall with a 75-inch reach, the orthodox-stance fighter brings a multidimensional threat to every bout. Amosov averages 4.64 takedowns per 15 minutes and posts a striking accuracy of 47 percent, landing 2.78 significant strikes per minute. His submission attempts rate of 4.6 per 15 minutes underscores just how dangerous he is once a fight hits the mat.
Saint-Denis, meanwhile, does not yet have an announced opponent for his next appearance, lending some intrigue to the camp setup and what Álvarez's style might be offering his French training partner in terms of preparation.
Why it matters
- Álvarez faces one of the lightweight division's most complete grapplers in Amosov, making a high-level training environment essential
- The former matchup between Álvarez and Saint-Denis adds an unusual dynamic to their collaborative camp
- Saint-Denis's undisclosed opponent could become clearer as UFC 328 approaches and the card fills out
- A strong performance from either fighter in May could significantly shift their positioning in a deep lightweight division
Saturday, May 9, 2026
