Joel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have begun a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, under coach Nicolas Ott. The two lightweights were scheduled to fight each other a year ago, but the bout fell through, and now they're working together as training partners. Alvarez is preparing for his upcoming fight against Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9th. Saint Denis does not yet have a fight announced, though Alvarez suggested his French training partner may be preparing for an opponent with a similar style. The Spanish fighter shared that Saint Denis initiated the collaboration by reaching out to coordinate the joint camp.
Two lightweights who once were set to face each other inside the octagon are now pushing each other in the gym. Joel 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 bout against Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9th. According to Alvarez, it was Saint Denis who reached out to make the collaboration happen.
Alvarez, nicknamed "El Fenomeno," enters the camp riding a 23-4 record and sitting at number 12 in the lightweight division. The 33-year-old Spaniard stands six-foot-three with a 77-inch reach and brings a high-output striking game, landing 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, while also averaging 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Saint Denis, the 30-year-old Frenchman known as "God of War," holds a 17-3 record and is ranked ninth in the lightweight division, three spots above his new training partner. The southpaw is slightly more compact at five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach, but he produces even busier output — 5.62 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy — and adds a formidable grappling dimension with 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts in the same span. Saint Denis does not currently have a fight booked, though Alvarez indicated his partner may be sharpening his skills against a stylistically similar opponent.
Their opponent in waiting, Amosov, carries a 30-1 record and represents a significant grappling threat, 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 Saint Denis — himself a prolific takedown artist — an ideal sparring resource.
- A win for Alvarez over Amosov could push him well up the lightweight rankings, with Saint Denis already sitting at number nine.
- The pairing reunites two fighters whose previous matchup never materialized, adding an intriguing personal dynamic to the camp.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
