Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have begun a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, under the guidance of coach Nicolas Ott. The two fighters were scheduled to face each other a year ago, but that bout never materialized. Now they are working together as training partners ahead of their respective upcoming fights. Alvarez is confirmed to fight Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9, while Saint Denis does not yet have an announced opponent. According to Alvarez, Saint Denis reached out to arrange the training partnership, and the Spaniard believes the Frenchman may be preparing for an opponent with a similar style to his own, though Saint Denis hasn't revealed who that might be.
Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have joined forces for a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, working under coach Nicolas Ott as both men prepare for upcoming bouts in the lightweight division.
The pairing carries an added layer of intrigue given that the two were once scheduled to fight each other, a matchup that ultimately never came to fruition. According to Alvarez, it was Saint Denis who initiated the partnership. The Spaniard has suggested that the Frenchman may be targeting an opponent who shares a similar fighting style, though Saint Denis has yet to identify who that might be.
Saint Denis, ranked ninth in the lightweight division at 30 years old, carries a 17-3 record and is one of the more dynamic grapplers in the 155-pound weight class. The southpaw stands five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach and posts an impressive 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes, while also generating 5.62 significant strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy — a rare combination of volume striking and wrestling output.
Alvarez is confirmed to meet Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9. Amosov, 32, brings a formidable 30-1 record into that contest and is a serious grappling threat in his own right, averaging 4.64 takedowns and 4.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes. The Ukrainian stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance.
Why it matters
- Alvarez will face one of the most accomplished grapplers on the UFC roster in Amosov, making a camp with Saint Denis — himself a high-volume takedown artist — a logical fit for preparation.
- Saint Denis's unannounced opponent could offer clues once revealed, with Alvarez hinting the styles may overlap.
- A strong performance from either fighter at this stage of the lightweight rankings carries significant divisional weight.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
