Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have started 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 upcoming fights. Alvarez will face Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9th, while Saint Denis' next fight has not been announced yet. Alvarez indicated that Saint Denis may be preparing for an opponent with a similar style to his own, though Saint Denis did not reveal the specific matchup.
Yoel Alvarez and Benoit Saint Denis have joined forces for a joint training camp in Bayonne, France, working under coach Nicolas Ott as both fighters prepare for their respective next bouts.
The pairing carries an added layer of intrigue given that the two were once scheduled to face each other, though that matchup never came to fruition. Rather than becoming opponents, they have now chosen to share a camp and push each other toward their upcoming assignments.
Saint Denis, nicknamed "God of War," is a 30-year-old French lightweight currently ranked ninth in his division. The southpaw stands five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach and brings a relentless, multi-dimensional game to the cage, landing 5.62 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate while also averaging 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes. His next opponent has not been officially announced, though Alvarez suggested Saint Denis may be preparing for someone who fights in a style similar to his own.
Alvarez, meanwhile, is slated to meet Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 on May 9th. Amosov enters that contest carrying a 30-1-0 record at age 32. The orthodox fighter stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach and is a dangerous grappler, averaging 4.64 takedowns and 4.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes, numbers that underline why a camp partner with elite wrestling and submission credentials would be a logical choice for Alvarez.
Why it matters
- Alvarez faces one of the most decorated grapplers in the welterweight division in Amosov, making a high-level wrestling partner essential for his preparation.
- Saint Denis brings elite takedown volume and submission activity, offering Alvarez realistic looks at the style Amosov is likely to impose.
- The undisclosed nature of Saint Denis' next opponent adds a subplot, with the stylistic overlap hinting at a potential high-profile lightweight matchup on the horizon.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
