UFC 315: Everything on the line for Benoit Saint Denis and Joel Alvarez in Montreal clash

Montreal, Quebec, Canada has a high-level banger for European MMA fans added to its UFC 315 event on Saturday, May 11,  when Jack Della Maddelena takes on Belal Muhammed at a shot for the welterweight title. 

Spain’s biggest prospect Joel ‘El Fenomeno’ Alvarez will take on the French Benoit ‘God of War’ Saint Denis in a three-round battle in the lightweight division to open the main card of this PPV.  

This fight is a stylistic treat for fans as both men will go out on their shields for victory, with a 100% finish rate between the pairs victories. 

Who is Benoit Saint Denis and what does this fight mean to him?

Born in Bayonne, a city in the south of France, Benoit Saint Denis was once a problem in the lightweight division but has since fallen from grace following two back-to-back defeats to ranked lightweights, being finished by Renato Moicano and Dustin Poirer.  

His last victory dates to November 2023 where he stopped Matt Frevola with a brutal head-kick in the 1st round.  

Prior to this Benoit also holds big finish wins over the likes of Thiago Moises and Ismael Bonfim and looks to bounce back to his winning ways when he fights Joel Alvarez next weekend. 

A win over Alvarez is essential for Benoit Saint Denis as a loss will bring him to a three fight losing streak and would more than likely take him out of the rankings. Many fans are wondering if giving Saint Denis a prospect like Joel is too much due to his losing streak. 

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Speaking on this, Saint Denis told RMC Sport Combat in an interview: “I think that we must respect the logic of the sport, when you suffer failure, the guys behind have their opportunity, so it’s normal, it’s part of the game.”  

“I had 5 wins before the limit in a row, that’s how I got the opportunity to have a big fight. So, I’m probably going to face someone who is ranked between my place or behind me.” 

Benoit has a well-rounded skill set, but brawler style that fans love, where he goes all out in his fights with no quit in him. He boasts four knockouts and nine submissions in 13 victories, with a record of 13 wins and 3 defeats. 

The 13th Ranked Mixed Martial Artist represents Venom Training Camp gym in Paris, France, but was not always an MMA fighter, as prior to his MMA career Benoit served in the French Army Special Forces with the 1st Marine Infantry Paratroopers Regiment but gave it up to pursue a career in MMA in as recent as March 2019. 

Impressively, Saint Denis participated in counter-terrorism operations in Mali and West Africa, even being awarded the Medal of the Nation's Gratitude and the Combatant's Cross for his service in France. 

Who is Joel Alvarez and what does this fight mean to him? 

Fighting out of Bandog Fight Club gym in Gijon, Asturias in the Northwestern region of Spain, Joe Alvarez has been on a tear, running through competition left right and centre. He is currently riding a three fight win-streak, finishing all three of his opponents. 

Alvarez most recent victory was a brutal flying knee finish against Drakkar Klose in the first round in December of last year and holds finish wins over the likes of Marc Diakiese, Thiago Moises and Joseph Duffy. 

This fight will propel Joel Alvarez up the rankings should he get the victory and bring him one step closer to the top 10. However, he has stated that he is currently struggling to make 155 and has plans to move up weight class to welterweight. 

Speaking in an interview with SER Gijon: “It’s a very tough cut because I’m a thin person by nature. The truth is that it’s a tough cut, but well, it’s the last time we’re going to do it.

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"From now on we’ll fight in the upper weight category, which is 77 kilos, I continue, we still have to make a cut but not as hard, nothing like that.  

“They would have to put something very, very, very good, very juicy on the table, right? To stay in this category.” 

Could this be the last time we see Joel Alvarez at lightweight? 

Alvarez is a very well-rounded fighter with high level finishing ability, although starting as a grappler his striking is much improved, boasting 17 submissions and five knockouts in 22 victories. With a record of 22-3 he is a problem for both lightweights and welterweights. 

Alvarez is also a friend of fellow Spaniard and former featherweight champion and now lightweight contender Ilia Topuria. 

Who is next for the winner of this bout? 

Just ranked ahead of the pair the Rafael Fiziev takes on Chilean prospect Ignacio Bahamondes in his home country of Azerbaijan on a Fight Night, June 21. Fiziev is ranked 11th, so the winner of this fight will more than likely be moved to the top 10.  

It only makes sense for the winner of Saint Denis vs Alvarez to be fighting upwards and a fight against the winner of this fight would be a break way to the top 10 for them. 

However, that all depends on who comes victorious due to Alvarez’s plans to move to welterweight. 

The winner of this fight could make a big change for the landscape of either the welterweight or lightweight divisions. 

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