Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have begun a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, under coach Nicolas Otamendi. The two fighters were previously scheduled to face each other a year ago, but that bout never materialized. Now they are helping each other prepare for their respective upcoming fights. Alvarez is scheduled to fight Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9th, while Saint Denis does not yet have an announced opponent. According to Alvarez, Saint Denis contacted him to arrange training together, and the Spaniard believes Saint Denis will be fighting an opponent with a similar style to his own, though Saint Denis has not revealed who that opponent might be.
Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have joined forces for a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, working under coach Nicolas Otamendi as both men prepare for upcoming bouts. The partnership carries an added layer of intrigue given that the two were once slated to face each other before that fight fell through.
Saint Denis, ranked ninth in the UFC lightweight division, carries a 17-3 record and brings a dynamic, well-rounded skill set to the camp. The 30-year-old Frenchman, known as "God of War," fights out of a southpaw stance and stands five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach. His numbers reflect an aggressive, high-output style — he lands 5.62 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, and adds 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes to go along with 1.8 submission attempts in the same span. Saint Denis does not yet have an announced opponent, though Alvarez has suggested the Frenchman may be preparing for someone who fights in a similar style to himself.
Alvarez is the one with a confirmed date on the calendar, set to meet Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9th. Amosov, 32, holds a formidable 30-1 record and stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach. The orthodox grappler is particularly dangerous on the ground, averaging 4.64 takedowns and 4.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him one of the more relentless wrestlers in his division.
According to Alvarez, it was Saint Denis who reached out to initiate the training arrangement, suggesting both men see mutual benefit in the pairing ahead of their respective assignments.
Why it matters
- Alvarez faces one of the most submission-heavy fighters on the roster in Amosov, making elite grappling preparation essential
- Saint Denis's southpaw stance and aggressive style offer Alvarez a useful training tool ahead of UFC 328
- The camp could hint at Saint Denis's unannounced opponent sharing stylistic traits with Alvarez
- Both fighters operating in or around the lightweight division means divisional positioning is on the line for at least one of them
Saturday, May 9, 2026
