Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint-Denis have begun a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, under the guidance of coach Nicolas Ottan. The two fighters were originally scheduled to face each other a year ago, but that bout never materialized. Alvarez is preparing to fight Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9, while Saint-Denis does not yet have an announced fight. Alvarez revealed that Saint-Denis contacted him to arrange the training partnership and suggested that the Frenchman may be preparing for an opponent with a similar fighting style. The Spanish fighter expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration.
Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint-Denis have joined forces for a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, working under coach Nicolas Ottan as both fighters prepare for their respective next outings.
Saint-Denis, nicknamed "God of War," holds a 17-3-0 record and is ranked ninth in the UFC lightweight division. The 30-year-old Frenchman is a physical and aggressive presence at five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach. His numbers reflect a well-rounded and high-output game, averaging 5.62 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, while also threatening consistently on the mat with 4.19 takedowns and 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes. He does not currently have a fight announced.
Alvarez is the man with a date circled, set to face Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9. Amosov brings a formidable 30-1-0 record into that contest. The 32-year-old orthodox fighter stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach and is particularly dangerous as a grappler, averaging 4.64 takedowns and 4.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes — numbers that place him among the elite wrestlers in MMA.
According to Alvarez, it was Saint-Denis who reached out to arrange the partnership. Alvarez suggested the collaboration may be tactically motivated on Saint-Denis's end, hinting the Frenchman could be preparing for an opponent with a style similar to his own. Alvarez also expressed genuine enthusiasm about working alongside the French contender.
Why it matters
- Alvarez faces one of MMA's most decorated grapplers in Amosov, making a camp partner with elite wrestling and submission credentials a logical choice
- Saint-Denis's style — heavy on takedowns and ground work — closely mirrors Amosov's, lending credibility to the idea that Alvarez is using him as a tactical sparring proxy
- The pair were originally scheduled to fight each other a year ago, making the shift to training allies a notable dynamic heading into this camp
Saturday, May 9, 2026
