2024-03-09 07:25:00
It’s like an unwritten rule in MMA. “Every victory brings you one step closer to every fighter’s ultimate goal of becoming a UFC champion,” summed up Benoit Saint-Denis, ahead of his last fight at Madison Square Garden in New York, once morest Matt Frevola. Meanwhile, “God of war” did the job. He swept away the former American soldier in less than thirty seconds with an impressive high-kick, to further assert himself as a serious contender for the places that count in the lightweight category within the queen organization.
“BSD”, whom observers describe as a rising MMA star, has officially joined the prestigious UFC top 15 following this lightning victory. A status which offers him new perspectives, even if many agreed that his arrival in this closed circle was only a matter of time, given the ease with which the Bayonnais had swept aside his opponents during his last appearances in the cage.
In co-main event of a numbered UFC
But in the clan of the former soldier of the 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1st RPIMA), we did not expect Dana White to designate Dustin Poirier as his future opponent. In January, those around him explained to us that they were taken by surprise, and that they learned the news at the same time as the fans, that is to say during the boss’s announcement. But it was a fantastic opportunity, both sportingly and economically.
The circumstances of the organization of this fight were also particular. It had, it seems, not yet been signed at the time of its formalization. Dustin Poirier had communicated his cancellation for a while, before backpedaling. The duel will finally take place, on the night of Saturday March 10 to Sunday March 11, in the co-main event of UFC 299 in Miami. This is the greatest opportunity in the career of “God of War”, at 28 years old, and following 13 victories (for a defeat once morest an opponent who has since been suspended for doping).
“Dustin Poirier is a bit like the uncrowned king. He’s a bit like our Jérôme Le Banner from the K-1 era. This is a guy who was interim champion, but always lost to the champion at pivotal moments in his career. Today, it presents itself a bit like a world semi-final opportunity for me,” he explains to RMC Sport. “Only” 12th in the rankings, the UFC gave him a nice gift with 3rd in the lightweight category.
Benoit Saint-Denis, “the young lion” who challenges Poirier
An opponent known to be the bane of the legendary Conor McGregor, whom he beat twice, losing to the Irishman. Would success really open the doors to a fight for the world belt, currently held by Islam Makhachev? We should perhaps see this declaration of “BSD” as a way of asserting itself in the eyes of the UFC.
READ ALSO. From Special Forces to MMA, who really is Benoit Saint-Denis?
The American says he does not take this confrontation lightly: “Why did I take this fight?” To test myself. After 30 fights in the UFC, let me fight this young man who has fire in his eyes, who is a young lion and who finishes his opponents. Put me in front of this guy and let’s see what happens. » One thing is certain, however, given the pedigree of the two fighters. Benoit Saint-Denis has much more to gain than to lose in the cage at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
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