‘This is awful’…Fans rip Benoit Saint-Denis’s new UFC 315 fight after opponent’s days’ notice withdrawal
Benoit Saint-Denis will fight at UFC 315 after all, but fans aren’t happy with his new opponent booking.
UFC lightweight contender Benoit Saint-Denis‘s originally scheduled opponent, Joel Alvarez, withdrew from UFC 315 this past weekend due to an undisclosed injury. After the news broke of Alvarez’s withdrawal, many questioned whether or not the knockout artist Saint-Denis would remain on the UFC 315 card or if the matchmakers would save him for another event.
It was a big blow just days ahead of UFC 315, which marks the promotion’s return to Montreal after a lengthy absence. It was an important opportunity for Saint-Denis after suffering back-to-back knockout defeats in 2024.
Despite a Top 15 lightweight offering to step in to fight Saint-Denis, the French star will face a significant downgrade in competition at UFC 315.
Fans are extremely critical of Benoit Saint-Denis’s new booking for UFC 315
As reported by TSN‘s Aaron Bronsteter, Saint-Denis will face 26-fight veteran Kyle Prepolec in a lightweight bout at UFC 315. Prepolec fought twice previously in the UFC Octagon, dropping unanimous decisions to Austin Hubbard and Nordine Taleb.
Prepolec was scheduled to face PFL veteran Michael Dufort at a Samourai MMA event on Friday before getting the call to face Saint-Denis at UFC 315.
After the news broke of Saint-Denis vs. Prepolec, fight fans weren’t happy.
“This is awful considering the potential available options,” one fan responded on X.
“Free win for BSD,” another said.
“Fair play to him, but he’s well up there in years.”
“F— you [UFC]. You guys fumbled Benoit vs. Rebecki. Benoit in 1.”
“Who da f— is that guy?”
“Saying no to Gamrot and then taking this fight. SMH.”
“They doing anything to let Benoit get a win.”
“Jeez I’m Canadian and even I never heard of this guy.”
“Tell me this is a joke, please.”
“Can’t even imagine what the odds are gonna look like.”
Saint-Denis is looking to bounce back from the first losing streak of his MMA career after losses to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano last year. Before his recent struggles, Saint-Denis won five consecutive fights, including finishes of Ismael Bonfim and Thiago Moises.
While Prepolec’s UFC tenure didn’t impress, he’s been on a roll in this current chapter of his career. He’s won four of his last five fights and is fresh off three brutal knockout victories.
UFC Hall of Famer praised ‘complete package’ Belal Muhammad ahead of UFC 315
After Saint-Denis’s position on the UFC 315 was secured, the matchmakers can turn their attention towards an intriguing card on Saturday night. UFC 315 is headlined by UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad‘s first title defense against Jack Della Maddalena.
Ahead of UFC 315, Muhammad received huge praise from UFC Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre, whom he is chasing down in discussing the all-time great welterweights. St-Pierre called Muhammad a ‘complete package’ and compared his style to the one he demonstrated during his Hall of Fame career.
If anything happens with the UFC 315 main event, Ian Machado Garry will be on site to serve as the backup fighter, although Muhammad dismisses that he’ll be needed this weekend. Garry most recently defeated Carlos Prates at UFC Kansas City.
