Las Vegas, NV – UFC lightweight Benoit Saint-Denis’ priorities are set as he looks for a quick turnaround fight in Paris later this year, but first he faces Ismael Bonfim at UFC Vegas 76 on Saturday night.
“Less jet lag with Abu Dhabi, but there’s a UFC Paris so…you know I take fight after fight,” Saint-Denis told reporters on Wednesday.
“First thing I have to take Bonfim’s head off on Saturday. If it works of course I would like to be in France.”
Saint-Denis (10-1, 1NC) isn’t looking past Bonfim this weekend. He knows his opponent is tough, talented, and looking to take him out as well.
“He’s a tough Brazilian, tough opponent, I think he must be better ranked that I am. He knocked Terrance McKinney (out). It’s a great opportunity to go higher in the rankings. I think it will be a great fight,” he said.
“It’s a good opponent to show your skills.”
Saint-Denis has been out of action since Sept. 2022 and he detailed the injury that forced him to sit out for so long.
“I had two ligaments of my ankle that were off so I had no stability. If you have no stability it’s difficult to fight,” he said.
Saint-Denis told reporters that after surgery he “did a great job” in rehabbing the injury in time to come back for this fight.
End of the day it’s about Bonfim this weekend and then hoping to jump on the Paris card later this year.
“First off I need to take the W to get the job done. After this don’t worry I will tell you exactly what I want,” Saint-Denis said.
“First mission is to take Bonfim down.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Benoit Saint-Denis above. He faces Ismael Bonfim at UFC Vegas 76 on Saturday night at the UFC APEX.
