Joel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have begun a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, under coach Nicholas Ott. The collaboration is notable because the two fighters were scheduled to face each other a year ago before that bout fell through. Alvarez is preparing for his UFC 328 fight against Yaroslav Amosov on May 9, while Saint Denis does not yet have an announced bout. According to Alvarez, Saint Denis initiated the training partnership and hinted he may be preparing for an opponent with a similar style to the Spaniard, though he did not reveal specific details. The arrangement represents a strategic partnership between former scheduled opponents.
Joel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have joined forces for a shared training camp in Bayonne, France, working under coach Nicholas Ott as Alvarez builds toward his UFC 328 bout against Yaroslav Amosov on May 9.
The pairing carries an unusual backstory: the two lightweight contenders were once booked to fight each other before that matchup fell apart. Now, rather than remaining rivals at a distance, they are preparing side by side. According to Alvarez, Saint Denis was the one who reached out to initiate the partnership, and the Spaniard hinted that his training partner may be targeting an opponent with a stylistic profile similar to his own, though no names were confirmed.
Alvarez, ranked twelfth at lightweight and carrying a 23-4 record at age 33, is a six-foot-three orthodox striker with a 77-inch reach. He lands 4.78 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate, and averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat on the feet and on the mat.
Saint Denis, nicknamed "God of War" and sitting ninth in the division at 17-3, brings a different dimension to the room. The 30-year-old Frenchman is a southpaw who lands 5.62 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy and averages an imposing 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes. He does not yet have a fight announced.
Their shared opponent for UFC 328, Yaroslav Amosov, arrives at 30-1 and presents a formidable grappling challenge of his own, averaging 4.64 takedowns and 4.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes — making the defensive wrestling work both men can provide each other genuinely useful preparation for Alvarez ahead of fight night.
Why it matters
- Alvarez faces one of the division's most active grapplers in Amosov, giving the Saint Denis camp sessions clear tactical value
- Saint Denis, ranked above Alvarez at ninth, remains without a booking, keeping his next move a point of speculation within the lightweight division
- The collaboration between two former scheduled opponents is an uncommon arrangement that reflects the strategic calculations fighters make in building their camps
Saturday, May 9, 2026
