Benoit Saint Denis is able to problem for a high 10 spot once more.
Three years in the past, Saint Denis burst onto the scene with 5 straight wins within the UFC’s crowded light-weight division, with none of these opponents making it previous the second spherical. The French star was given an enormous step up in competitors when he confronted Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 and although he began robust, Saint Denis fell in Spherical 2 to the extra skilled Poirier.
Quick ahead to UFC Paris, the place Saint Denis simply scored a one-sided submission win over the streaking Mauricio Ruffy. That’s back-to-back victories for Saint Denis now and he’s assured he’s righted the ship after falling prey to unhealthy habits early in his UFC profession.
“I’m again at doing what I like to do,” Saint Denis stated on the night’s post-fight press convention. “I misplaced myself earlier than the Dustin Poirier battle and for one yr, 2024. I’ve been studying so much and I made loads of errors and I feel my head obtained huge. I made loads of issues for myself, not focusing anymore on the battle recreation and [being] the very best fighter on this planet, which is what I get pleasure from doing.
“Now I’m again at it and I can’t wait to showcase it by dealing with a man like Arman [Tsarukyan], [Dan] Hooker, like [Mateusz] Gamrot, anyone inside the highest 10. I do know they wished to make Arman vs. Gamrot, they wished to make me vs. Gamrot, it didn’t work, perhaps me vs. Arman as a result of clearly [Gamrot and Arman already fought], so I don’t know what would be the UFC’s plans. I refuse no one, I’m again on the model of myself, which is battle as a lot as potential and win as a lot as potential irrespective of the opponent.”
Saint Denis has a roaring French crowd behind him at Accor Area and he made the a lot of the help, taking the battle to Ruffy immediately and utilizing his wrestling to drive the Brazilian striker to cope with him on the mat. Ruffy defended properly, however couldn’t stop Saint Denis from repeatedly scoring takedowns.
Two of Ruffy’s three UFC fights have been received by highlight-reel knockout, so Saint Denis made positive to respect his opponent’s abilities.
“I knew he was harmful on the counter,” Saint Denis stated. “He’s explosive in assault, too. He’s some of the harmful opponents, particularly in the beginning of the spherical when he’s not drained. I simply fought in my type. I blended it up and I drained him out and I put him in my universe, which is struggle. I’m the ‘God of Conflict’ and because the age of 19 I’ve been doing every kind of warfare.”
Together with Tsarukyan, Hooker, and Gamrot, Saint Denis added he’d be thrilled to match up with fan favourite Justin Gaethje. Saint Denis stated in his post-fight interview that he’s able to guide one other bout quickly if it’s in opposition to a high 10 opponent, even when he’s known as upon on brief discover.
Saint Denis referenced his previous as a member of the French army to elucidate how he re-calibrated his thoughts set.
“I went again to being the soldier contained in the cage,” Saint Denis stated. “Specializing in camp and getting skilled and also you go the model of the God of Conflict again. The outdated model that believes in himself and is just specializing in [being] the very best fighter on this planet and figuring out for this day-after-day and I’m glad for it.”
