Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have started training together in Bayonne, France, under coach Nicolas Otta. The two lightweights were originally scheduled to fight each other a year ago, but the bout fell through. Now they are helping each other prepare for their respective upcoming fights. Alvarez is set to face Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9, while Saint Denis does not have a fight announced yet. According to Alvarez, Saint Denis reached out to arrange the joint training camp, and the Frenchman hinted he may have an upcoming opponent with a similar style to Alvarez, though he didn't reveal who.
Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have joined forces for a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, working under coach Nicolas Otta as both lightweights look to sharpen their games ahead of separate bouts.
The pairing carries an unusual backstory: the two were originally booked to fight each other roughly a year ago before that matchup fell apart. According to Alvarez, it was Saint Denis who reached out to propose the collaboration, and the Frenchman has hinted he may have an upcoming opponent whose style resembles Alvarez's — though he stopped short of naming anyone.
Saint Denis, ranked ninth in the lightweight division, carries a 17-3 record and brings a relentless attacking game to the mat. The 30-year-old southpaw from France stands five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach and lands an impressive 5.62 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, while also threatening consistently with 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes. No fight has been officially announced for him yet.
Alvarez is set to face Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9. Amosov enters that contest with a 30-1 record and brings elite grappling credentials, averaging 4.64 takedowns and 4.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes. The 32-year-old orthodox fighter stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach, and while his striking output of 2.78 significant strikes per minute is measured, his 47 percent accuracy reflects a conservative, control-oriented approach.
Why it matters
- Alvarez gets direct preparation against a high-level grappler ahead of a dangerous opponent in Amosov
- Saint Denis benefits from live rounds with a fighter whose style may mirror his unannounced upcoming foe
- The camp keeps both lightweights active and sharp during what could be pivotal moments in each man's divisional climb
Saturday, May 9, 2026
