Yoel 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 are training partners. Alvarez is preparing for his UFC 328 bout against Yaroslav Amosov on May 9th, while Saint Denis does not have a fight announced yet. Alvarez mentioned that Saint Denis initiated the training arrangement and suggested he may be preparing for an opponent with a similar style, though no specifics were revealed.
Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have joined forces at a training camp in Bayonne, France, working under coach Nicolas Ott ahead of Alvarez's scheduled UFC 328 bout against Yaroslav Amosov on May 9th.
The pairing carries an unusual backstory: the two lightweights were booked to fight each other roughly a year ago before that bout fell through. According to Alvarez, it was Saint Denis who reached out to initiate the training arrangement, and Alvarez suggested his camp partner may be preparing for an opponent with a stylistically similar profile, though no further details were shared.
Saint Denis, nicknamed "God of War," sits ninth in the lightweight rankings at 17-3-0. The 30-year-old Frenchman is a southpaw standing 180 cm with a 185 cm reach, and his numbers reflect an aggressive, multi-dimensional game: 5.62 significant strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy, combined with 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts in the same window.
Amosov, the man Alvarez will face in May, carries a 30-1-0 record at 32 years old. The orthodox wrestler stands 183 cm with a 191 cm reach and averages 4.64 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a notable 4.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him one of the more persistent grapplers in the division.
Why it matters
- Amosov's grappling-heavy style makes a high-volume wrestling partner like Saint Denis a logical training choice for Alvarez.
- Saint Denis currently has no fight announced, so the camp could serve a dual purpose as he awaits his own booking.
- A ranked lightweight working alongside a title-contender-caliber opponent sharpens the preparation quality for both men.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
