Joel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have begun a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, under coach Nicolas Ott. The two were scheduled to fight each other a year ago, but the bout never materialized. Now they are helping each other prepare for their respective upcoming fights. Alvarez will face Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9, while Saint Denis does not yet have an announced opponent. Alvarez revealed that Saint Denis reached out to arrange the training partnership and suggested that the Frenchman may be preparing for an opponent with a similar fighting style to Alvarez's, though no specific name was mentioned.
Joel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have joined forces for a shared training camp in Bayonne, France, working under coach Nicolas Ott as both lightweights prepare for their next assignments.
Alvarez, nicknamed "El Fenomeno," enters the camp riding a 23-4-0 record and sits at number 12 in the lightweight division. The 33-year-old Spaniard, who stands six-foot-three with a 77-inch reach, is a high-output striker who lands 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. He also generates more than one submission attempt per 15 minutes, making him a genuine threat on the ground as well. Alvarez is set to face Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9.
Saint Denis, known as "God of War," brings a 17-3-0 record and holds the number nine ranking in the division, three spots above his new training partner. The 30-year-old southpaw stands five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach and is one of the most active fighters in the weight class, landing 5.62 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. His wrestling is particularly dangerous, with 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts in that same span. Saint Denis does not yet have an announced opponent.
According to Alvarez, it was Saint Denis who reached out to set up the partnership. Alvarez also hinted that Saint Denis may be targeting an opponent with a fighting style similar to his own, though no name was confirmed.
Their shared camp carries an added layer of history — the two were originally scheduled to fight each other roughly a year ago before that bout fell apart.
Why it matters
- Alvarez faces Yaroslav Amosov, a 30-1-0 wrestler averaging 4.64 takedowns and 4.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making grappling defense a clear priority in camp
- Saint Denis's hint about a stylistically similar opponent adds intrigue to what his next booking could look like
- Both men are positioned in the top 12 of a stacked lightweight division, where a strong showing from either could force a rankings shake-up
Saturday, May 9, 2026
