UFC lightweight Benoit Saint-Denis lost his opponent for UFC 315 a couple of weeks ago, but gets replacement Kyle Prepolec on Saturday night.
Saint-Denis (13-3) last fought in September of last year and definitely did not want to have to wait months to get his first fight in 2025 in. Remaining on this UFC 315 card was important for him.
“The most important thing for me was I’m here, I’m ready, I’m ready for a fight,” he told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
“I really wanted to fight here in Quebec. I love the fact that it’s the home soil of so many champions like GSP. There is Manon Fiorot who can become the first undisputed French champion.”
Losing out on fighting someone like Joel Alvarez wasn’t easy for Saint-Denis. The Frenchman had to make peace with the fact that he wouldn’t get that fight in Montreal.
“It was going to be a very violent fight. The two guys with 100% finish rate in the division. #13 against #15 I was really happy about this fight, but the fight game is like this,” he said.
“Thanks to God the UFC is a huge war machine and they are able to find me an opponent for Saturday night.”
Lightweights spoke up rather quickly as soon as news that Alvarez was out broke. One man in particular was Mateusz Gamrot who said Saint-Denis turned him down. The Frenchman had a grin on his face when asked about him.
“I think everybody knows me now. I think if he could have done it in Montreal you all know it was going to happen,” he said.
It’s not that Saint-Denis wouldn’t fight Gamrot. Waiting for him would mean weeks to a month long wait for another card. No, Saint-Denis has a better idea.
Prepolec on Saturday night, and then Gamrot in two weeks. Why not?
“What I wanted to do is fight in Montreal. Waiting three weeks or one month to have another opponent is an option,” he said.
“UFC wants me to fight Gamrot in two weeks, I will do my job on Saturday night, and I will be there in two weeks. Don’t worry about it.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Benoit Saint-Denis above. He takes on Kyle Prepolec at UFC 315 on Saturday night.
