Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have started training together in Bayonne, France, under coach Nicolas Ott. The two fighters were originally scheduled to face each other a year ago, but that bout fell through. Alvarez is preparing for his UFC 328 fight against Yaroslav Amosov on May 9th. Saint Denis currently has no announced fight, though Alvarez hinted that the Frenchman may be preparing for an opponent with a similar style to his own. Saint Denis initiated the training partnership by reaching out to Alvarez directly.
Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have joined forces for a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, working under coach Nicolas Ott as Alvarez prepares for his UFC 328 bout against Yaroslav Amosov on May 9th.
The partnership carries an unusual backstory: the two fighters were originally scheduled to compete against each other a year ago before that matchup fell apart. Saint Denis was the one who reached out to Alvarez to initiate the collaboration, turning a former rivalry into a working alliance.
Saint Denis, nicknamed "God of War," enters the camp sitting ninth in the lightweight rankings at 30 years old with a 17-3-0 record. The southpaw out of France stands five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach and brings an aggressive, multi-dimensional game to the mat, averaging 5.62 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy while also threatening with 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes. He currently has no announced fight on the horizon, though Alvarez hinted that his training partner may be targeting an opponent with a stylistic profile similar to his own.
Amosov, the man Alvarez will face at UFC 328, carries a 30-1-0 record at 32 years old. The orthodox wrestler 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 gains direct exposure to a high-level grappler in Saint Denis, closely mirroring the takedown-heavy threat Amosov presents.
- Saint Denis's hint at an incoming fight, combined with his lightweight ranking, could signal a significant matchup in the division is taking shape.
- The camp reunites two fighters whose previous scheduled clash never materialized, adding an intriguing dynamic to the preparation.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
