Benoît Saint Denis
Career Averages
Win Methods (9)
Loss Methods (3)
Fight History
Expert Picks (19)
AJ picks Paddy Pimblett, believing he will catch BSD in a submission later in the fight. He notes that BSD's striking is sloppy and that Paddy's wild style can lead to a late stoppage. AJ also mentions that he bet on Paddy moneyline.
AJ is extremely confident in Paddy Pimblett as an underdog. He believes Paddy's jiu-jitsu is superior and that BSD's bottom game is questionable. He expects Paddy to weather early pressure, then take over in rounds 2-3 with a submission, specifically a rear-naked choke. He notes Paddy's iron chin and will, and that BSD has been finished before.
AJ picks Paddy Pimblett, emphasizing that Paddy's game is grappling-first and people underestimate his grappling skills. He believes Paddy will bust up BSD and sees a clear pathway to victory. He also mentions that Paddy is a dog and likes him as an underdog.
AJ likes Paddy Pimblett as a dog and specifically likes the submission prop at +650. He feels BSD is horrible off his back and that Paddy will win by submission. He notes that the chat overwhelmingly agrees with Paddy by sub.
AJ picks Paddy Pimblett as a live underdog, emphasizing Paddy's granite chin, superior jiu-jitsu, and ability to counter BSD's reckless pressure. He expects BSD to have early success but fade, allowing Paddy to take over with grappling and potentially a submission. AJ notes that BSD is technically flawed and overaggressive, which plays into Paddy's strengths.
AJ picks Paddy Pimblett as an underdog by submission, citing Pimblett's high-level BJJ and iron chin. He believes Pimblett can counter BSD's pressure, land big shots, and take the fight to the ground where his grappling advantage will shine. He expects Pimblett to find a rear-naked choke or ground-and-pound finish.
Angelo picks Paddy Pimblett after flipping from BSD. He was originally on BSD but changed after considering Pimblett's durability and the news that BSD had staff issues. He notes that Pimblett has a granite chin and dangerous jiu-jitsu, and that BSD is sloppy. He believes if Pimblett gets takedowns, he can win, but acknowledges it's a coin flip and won't bet on it.
Angelo originally picked BSD but switched to Paddy due to staph infection rumors about BSD. He thinks if both are healthy, BSD wins via wrestling. He notes Paddy is tough and almost finished Justin Gaethje, but BSD's wrestling and pressure are concerns. He is not betting this fight.
Big Brady picks Paddy Pimblett to win by finish, taking Pimblett finish only at +150 for 1 unit. He argues that while BSD has better wrestling, his striking defense is poor and he makes many grappling mistakes, often ending up in submission attempts. He believes Pimblett's durability and awkward striking give him opportunities to snatch a submission or land a big shot, especially if he gets on top. He also has a half-unit on Pimblett by submission at +700, noting BSD's tendency to put himself in bad positions.
Big Brady picks Paddy Pimblett to win by second-round submission. He highlights Pimblett's durability and ability to eat shots, while noting Saint Denis's history of being hurt and making grappling mistakes. He believes Pimblett can hurt Saint Denis on the feet and then catch him in a submission when Saint Denis shoots. He sees multiple paths to victory for Pimblett.
Big Brady leans towards Paddy Pimblett as a live dog, arguing that Paddy has more ways to win: KO, sub, or decision. He notes both have poor striking defense (42%), but Paddy is more durable and has never been KO'd. He thinks Saint Denis will make grappling mistakes and get caught in submissions, similar to Moicano's performance. He sees Saint Denis' path as only decision, while Paddy can finish.
Cody picks Paddy Pimblett, citing his durability, improved striking, and ability to scramble. He believes Benoît Saint Denis will tire after a fast start, and Pimblett can take over in later rounds. He also took the over 2.5 rounds at plus money.
Daniel Levi leans toward Benoît Saint Denis, citing Paddy Pimblett's recent title fight loss and potential letdown. He acknowledges both fighters have defensive liabilities and that the fight could go either way, but favors Saint Denis's momentum and physicality. Levi notes that Pimblett's weight cuts and Saint Denis's pressure could be decisive.
Jacob picks Paddy Pimblett, impressed by his durability in the Justin Gaethje fight. He notes that BSD squares up too much in his striking and could get caught by Pimblett's big shots. He sees a potential club-and-sub scenario where Pimblett hurts BSD and then submits him. He acknowledges both fighters have ways to lose and that it's a tough fight to bet on.
Lucrative James picks Paddy Pimblett as the underdog, predicting a submission win after hurting BSD with a knee or uppercut. He believes Pimblett is the better striker, more durable, and more dangerous on top, while BSD's aggressive wrestling will create opportunities for Pimblett to scramble or reverse. He notes BSD's poor takedown entries and Pimblett's ability to time knees and uppercuts.
The host notes both fighters prefer grappling and are not comfortable striking. Saint Denis is more aggressive but puts himself in danger that Pimblett can exploit. He expects Pimblett to land big shots and use submission threats to win on the scorecards in the second and third rounds.
The host picks Pimblett by decision, expecting his strength and grappling to neutralize Saint Denis's early pressure and then take over in later rounds as Saint Denis fades. He believes Pimblett chose this matchup because he knows he can outgrapple Saint Denis over 15 minutes.
Paul picks Paddy Pimblett as an underdog, believing Benoît Saint Denis will fade after a strong first round. He notes Pimblett's improved striking, durability, and submission threat off his back. He expects to get a better price after round one and sees a third-round finish as possible.
The MMA Guru picks Paddy Pimblett to win by second round KO or submission. He believes Saint Denis is vulnerable on the feet and will gas out. He thinks Pimblett's power and jiu-jitsu will be too much, and predicts a hip toss or guillotine. He also mentions that Saint Denis's chin is up in the air.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 30 of 47 | 63% | 51 of 68 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0:28 |
| Dan Hooker | 0 | 97 of 127 | 76% | 170 of 205 | 2 of 9 | 22% | 2 | 0 | 6:14 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 26 of 41 | 63% | 34 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:22 |
| Dan Hooker | 0 | 35 of 46 | 76% | 62 of 73 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:55 | |
| 2 | Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 17 of 19 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Dan Hooker | 0 | 62 of 81 | 76% | 108 of 132 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 2 | 0 | 4:19 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benoît Saint Denis | 30 of 47 | 63% | 19 of 32 | 8 of 12 | 3 of 3 | 28 of 44 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Dan Hooker | 97 of 127 | 76% | 83 of 113 | 14 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 20 of 32 | 10 of 11 | 67 of 84 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benoît Saint Denis | 26 of 41 | 63% | 16 of 27 | 8 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 24 of 38 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Dan Hooker | 35 of 46 | 76% | 24 of 35 | 11 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 27 | 8 of 8 | 11 of 11 | |
| 2 | Benoît Saint Denis | 4 of 6 | 66% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Dan Hooker | 62 of 81 | 76% | 59 of 78 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 3 | 56 of 73 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: St. Denis (-310), Hooker (+250)
Round 1
With the lightweight division still in flux thanks to the uncertain status of champ Ilia Topuria, it remains to be seen if the UFC 325 co-main attraction is also a lightweight title eliminator. It could be a one-sided version of that, given that Hooker (24-13, 14-9 UFC) succumbed to arm-triangle choke from Arman Tsarukyan his last time out. French foe St. Denis (16-3, 1 NC; 8-3 UFC) is streaking at the right time, winner of three straight and proudly sporting a 100% finish rate. Referee Herb Dean will do his darnedest to keep a lid on this potentially thrilling encounter, one that sees a glove touch come before the athletes engage.
Hooker immediately starts throwing kicks, and St. Denis answered with one far heavier and shoots for a takedown. Hooker stuffs it with ease, lands a right hand, and defends a second effort. Hooker sets up a front choke when St. Denis tries again, and the two roll all the way around toe break it up and get back to their feet. Hooker fires off a body kick, and St. Denis grabs it and goes for a takedown. Hooker looks to control St. Denis’ neck to stop it, and he turns St. Denis to the wall and lines him up with a right hand and a piercing body kick. Hooker goes to the same kick again, and St. Denis is not a fan. Hooker goes high and skims the head, and he appears to have St. Denis on the ropes from those kicks. Hooker kicks the same spot once more, and St. Denis crashes the pocket with a right hand and tries to tie Hooker up to ground him by any means necessary. St. Denis splits the guard with a left hand and shoots in on the hips, and Hooker turns him about and does some body work before splitting off. Hooker stabs the torso with a kick, and drills St. Denis in the face when St. Denis is bent over.
St. Denis lunges with punches, and the tie-up results in trip takedown attempts on both sides. They tumble to the mat in 50-50 position before working their way upright. St. Denis hits a throw he attempted several times and finally gets Hooker down, and he lands in side control to start elbowing the Kiwi in the face. St. Denis puts his knee on Hooker’s left arm to isolate the right, and he sets up a kimura and starts to lock it down. Hooker scrambles with all his might, and he gets up and scores a hefty body shot. Hooker tees off on St. Denis, and St. Denis is a berserker charging in with elbows and punches. Hooker hurts his man with an uppercut, and St. Denis tackles him to the floor. St. Denis drives down a few punches and transitions to elbows, slashing Hooker’s temple before the round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hooker
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Hooker
Round 2
It takes St. Denis seconds to sprint after his opponent and pursue a takedown. Hooker wisely defends it and threatens with a guillotine choke, and when they separate, St. Denis charges again for another. Hooker flips his foe over, but St. Denis proceeds to muscle Hooker all the way around to assume top position and hack down with 12-to-6 elbows. St. Denis calms himself down and lowers himself in the full mount to cinch up an arm-triangle choke, and he smothers the Kiwi and softens him up in the body a bit more. St. Denis hammers “The Hangman” with elbows before isolating the arm-triangle and stepping to the side. Hooker grimaces with his left arm between him and his foe, and he is in big trouble. St. Denis imposes his weight down but cannot complete the submission entirely, so he switches to wrap his hand up behind the head.
Hooker has a slight angle to breathe, so St. Denis steps all the way over to the side to press his shoulder down. Hooker keeps hold of his left arm to his knee, and he forces St. Denis to abandon it for a moment. St. Denis repositions himself, goes back to mount and then the side again, this time getting the choke tighter. Hooker defends it again, so St. Denis postures up and starts jackhammering Hooker with elbows to slice open a gash on Hooker’s left eyebrow. Blood immediately pours from the local fighter’s head, and St. Denis targets it with several more vicious elbows. Dean is watching on closely as St. Denis pummels his man with unanswered elbows, and Hooker bucks and moves enough to stay defensive while not taking the worst of the damage.
St. Denis thinks about another arm-triangle, but he abandons that train to rain down elbows and punches. Dean asks for Hooker to fight back, and St. Denis turns up the jets and punches Hooker in the guard again and again. As the Frenchman continues to hammer away at his opponent, Dean has to save him from himself.
St. Denis tries to offer gratitude to his fallen foe, one formerly blonde with hair now tinged pink due to his blood flow, and Hooker does not want to talk right now and would rather slump down on his stool. He does not protest the stoppage, given that St. Denis’ strikes were slipping through and busting him up, and St. Denis showed no sign of stopping. That makes it four in a row for “God of War,” and if Ilia Topuria is out for a while longer and Arman Tsarukyan is the UFC's latest persona non grata, who could refuse a matchup between St. Denis and Justin Gaethje or perhaps the winner of Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira?
The Official Result
Benoit St. Denis def. Dan Hooker R2 4:45 via TKO (Elbows and Punches)
Expert Picks (10)
Angelo picks Benoît Saint Denis, citing his non-stop pressure, well-timed takedowns, and heavy top control. He notes that Dan Hooker's takedown defense is solid overall but fails against better wrestlers, and BSD is relentless. Angelo acknowledges Hooker's heart and striking but questions his motivation and game-planning. He expects a war and thinks BSD's style will overwhelm Hooker.
Big Brady is confident in Benoît Saint Denis, believing there's a big levels difference on the mat. He notes Dan Hooker has looked poor off his back against wrestlers like Islam Makhachev and Armen Serukian, and Saint Denis will take him down and submit him. He also thinks Saint Denis can knock Hooker out, as Arnold Allen and Michael Chandler have done. Brady predicts a second-round submission.
Cody is switching his pick to Dan Hooker as a value play, despite acknowledging the risks. He notes that Saint Denis is hittable and has shown defensive flaws, and that Hooker has faced elite competition and has the toughness to survive takedowns. He expects a close fight and thinks Hooker can win a decision or even get a finish if Saint Denis tires. However, he admits he doesn't love the pick and it will be near the bottom of his parlay.
Connor picks Hooker because he believes Saint Denis falls apart when put on the back foot and is not a clean finisher. He thinks Hooker can survive the early onslaught and rally back, as Saint Denis has never shown an ability to withstand a comeback. However, he acknowledges that Hooker is not as durable as Poirier and could get run over early, making it a 50/50 fight.
Daniel Vreeland is extremely confident in Saint Denis, predicting he will run through Hooker and finish him. He believes Hooker is past his prime and overranked, while Saint Denis is a violent finisher with relentless pressure and a strong ground game. Vreeland even bet on Saint Denis at minus 250 and made a bold prediction that Hooker will never win another UFC fight.
James picks BSD to win, acknowledging his bias as a New Zealander rooting for Hooker. He believes BSD's wrestling and grappling will be too much for Hooker at this stage, and that the fight won't go to decision. He notes Hooker is the better striker but BSD can land takedowns and submissions. James is hesitant because he wants Hooker to win but thinks BSD's path is more likely.
Saint Denis is a talented grappler with good finishing ability, likely to get a submission within the first two rounds. Hooker has decent defensive grappling but may struggle with Saint Denis's smothering style. The host prefers the 'fight doesn't go to decision' prop at -220 over the moneyline chalk. Hooker's striking and cardio could be factors if he survives early, but Saint Denis is expected to get the submission.
Paul hates the -350 price on Saint Denis and prefers the fight not to go the distance, as Saint Denis fights are almost always finishes. He leans toward Hooker if forced to pick a moneyline side, citing Saint Denis's tendency to get hit and Hooker's durability. He also mentions the time zone difference as a potential factor.
The Guru picks Benoît Saint Denis, agreeing with the odds. He highlights Saint Denis's grappling, power, and aggression, predicting he will submit Dan Hooker. He notes Hooker's recent damage and broken nose, and believes Saint Denis's pressure and body kicks will be too much.
Zane also picks Hooker, citing Saint Denis's inability to fight going backward and his lack of defense or footwork on the retreat. He notes that Hooker has the counters for a bullheaded wrestling game and that if Hooker survives the first round, he has a good chance to finish or win a decision. However, he admits that Hooker could easily get trounced early, as seen in fights against Chandler and Allen.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneil Dariush | 0 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 1 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beneil Dariush | 0 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 1 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneil Dariush | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beneil Dariush | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: St. Denis (-198), Dariush (+164)
Round 1
Herb Dean is the referee. Dariush opens the action with a hard outside leg kick. A second low kick makes St. Denis stumble forward, which emboldens Dariush to go on the attack. Dariush rushes forward and fires off a knee in close quarters, but St. Denis clubs his reckless adversary with a left hand directly behind the ear. Dariush collapses face-first to the mat, and just to be safe, “God of War” adds one more follow-up shot on the ground for good measure. Herb Dean steps in before any further damage can be done. Dariush briefly protests the stoppage, but it’s clear the lightweight veteran is on wobbly legs as he returns to his feet. That’s three KO losses in his last four for Dariush and a statement win on a grand stage for St. Denis.
The Official Result
Benoit St. Denis def. Beneil Dariush via KO (Punch) R1 0:16
Expert Picks (10)
Angelo picks Benoît Saint Denis, citing his relentless pressure and wrestling. He believes Beneil Dariush is aging and was sloppy in his last fight. Despite Dariush's scrambling skills, Angelo thinks BSD's grit and non-stop pace will overcome technique. He notes he would have picked Dariush a few years ago.
Big Brady picks Benoît Saint Denis, citing Beneil Dariush's compromised chin. He notes Dariush has been knocked out in three of his last four fights, including by Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan, and was dropped by Hakeem Dawodu. Brady believes Saint Denis can take a punch better at this stage and predicts a first-round knockout in a war. He acknowledges Dariush's elite anti-grappling and skills but says the chin is the deciding factor.
Cody picks Dariush despite the risk of a first-round knockout. He notes that Dariush has excellent grappling and cardio, and that Saint Denis tends to fade and take damage in longer fights. Cody believes that if Dariush survives the early onslaught, he can take over with his wrestling and pressure. He suggests a live bet if Dariush gets through the first round.
Connor picks Dariush confidently, citing his superior grappling and scrambling. He notes that Saint Denis relies on aggression and faith in his conditioning, but Dariush is a fluid control grappler who will stay ahead in scrambles. He warns that Dariush could lose if knocked out, but in any grappling exchange, Dariush wins.
Daniel thinks Dariush is the better overall fighter but his chin is suspect, and Saint Denis has the power and pressure to test it. He notes that Saint Denis is riding high on confidence after dismantling Ruffy, while Dariush looks a fight or two away from retirement. He leans toward Saint Denis finding a knockout, but acknowledges Dariush has paths to victory if he can avoid getting hit clean.
Lucrative James picks Benoît Saint Denis to win by knockout, despite acknowledging Dariush's superior scrambling and counter-grappling. He believes Dariush's durability is a major concern, as he has been knocked out multiple times and is getting older. He thinks BSD's relentless pressure and power will eventually catch Dariush on the feet, even if he struggles to secure takedowns. He predicts a KO victory for BSD, possibly via head kick or in a transition.
Dariush is the better fighter. Saint Denis struggles to get grappling going. Dariush scrambles out of bad positions, keeps Saint Denis on the defensive, and finds a finish in the second or third round.
Paul agrees with Cody, preferring to watch the first round before betting due to the knockout risk. He notes that Saint Denis has gassed in past fights and that Dariush's takedown defense is excellent. Paul thinks that if Dariush can avoid early trouble, he can outwork Saint Denis and potentially submit him. He is not fully confident but leans towards Dariush.
The Guru picks Benoît Saint Denis to win by TKO in round two. He believes Saint Denis' pressure, clinch work, and body shots will wear down Dariush, who may struggle with the pace. He notes that both are evenly matched on the ground, but Saint Denis has a higher KO percentage and momentum. The Guru expects Saint Denis to break Dariush against the cage.
Zane agrees with Connor, picking Dariush. He emphasizes that Saint Denis' aggressive, throw-himself-in style will not work against Dariush's relaxed, anticipatory grappling. He notes that Saint Denis lost to Moicano by being overwhelmed, and Dariush is a better grappler than Moicano.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 17 of 38 | 44% | 37 of 61 | 3 of 10 | 30% | 1 | 0 | 4:38 |
| Maurício Ruffy | 0 | 5 of 17 | 29% | 6 of 18 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:34 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 6 of 18 | 33% | 19 of 32 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 3:04 |
| Maurício Ruffy | 0 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 1 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:16 | |
| 2 | Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 11 of 20 | 55% | 18 of 29 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 1 | 0 | 1:34 |
| Maurício Ruffy | 0 | 4 of 11 | 36% | 5 of 12 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benoît Saint Denis | 17 of 38 | 44% | 9 of 26 | 8 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 26 | 3 of 3 | 5 of 9 |
| Maurício Ruffy | 5 of 17 | 29% | 4 of 14 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benoît Saint Denis | 6 of 18 | 33% | 2 of 12 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 14 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 2 |
| Maurício Ruffy | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Benoît Saint Denis | 11 of 20 | 55% | 7 of 14 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 12 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 7 |
| Maurício Ruffy | 4 of 11 | 36% | 4 of 10 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ruffy (-200); St. Denis (+170)
Round 1
Buckle up, buckaroos. The co-main event is here, and it should be a wild one. St. Denis (14-3, 1 NC; 6-3 UFC) and Ruffy (12-1, 3-0 UFC) are about to trade. Nothing more needs to be said, other than that referee Herb Dean is standing by. The lightweights touch gloves. Here we go.
St. Denis introduces himself with a body kick, and then slings one up high. St. Denis rushes at the Brazilian with a looping left hand, and Ruffy bounces off the fencing. St. Denis drops to his knees in pursuit of a double, and he wrangles Ruffy to the mat in about 40 seconds. St. Denis steps over to half guard, side control and then full mount less than one minute into the bout. The crowd is predictably going nuts before St. Denis even starts setting up a chest pressure-based arm-triangle choke. Ruffy turns over to give up his back as St. Denis starts raining down punches, and he tries to pursue a choke while Ruffy stands up. Ruffy spins his opponent around while in a body lock, and he explodes back to his feet. St. Denis times a head kick and goes after a takedown, so Ruffy responds with an intercepting knee. St. Denis tackles the Brazilian to the mat, and he assumes full mount but actually steps to the side so he can retain a controlling posture.
St. Denis gets in a body lock from behind as Ruffy scrambles to turn to his back, and this allows St. Denis to assume full mount again. St. Denis wraps up an arm-triangle choke, and he has it tight but the Fighting Nerds export is able to tough it out. St. Denis drills him with a few ground strikes, and Ruffy muscles his way to his feet. The two tie up against the fencing, jockeying for position and trading knees. St. Denis lands a knee to the groin, or so Ruffy claims to Dean repeatedly. Dean asks the replay official to check the foul, which indeed struck him below the belt. Ruffy gets time to recover as the audience showers him with boos and then songs. Ruffy states he is good to go less than a minute in, and they get back to it. Ruffy wings a big uppercut that misses the mark, and he is countered by a head kick, jab and takedown attempt. Ruffy rebounds off the fencing and takes a flush jab on the way out. St. Denis kicks high and slaps into the guard, and he goes after two kicks to the ribs. St. Denis launches one more head kick that is blocked as the round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Round 2
The second round begins with St. Denis faking a takedown to open up with a head kick. St. Denis hurls a body kick and is jabbed back with a vengeance. Ruffy jumps in the air with a knee that staggers for a second, and St. Denis steels himself and forces himself into a takedown effort. St. Denis gets Ruffy down, but the Brazilian times a picture-perfect reversal to plant the local athlete on his back. St. Denis immediately opens up with an active guard, and Ruffy abandons ship and stands back up, where he misses a huge right hand. St. Denis walks him down and punches his way into a takedown shot, and a knee from St. Denis makes Ruffy cry foul once more. Dean is not hearing it this time, possibly because it is deafening in the arena. St. Denis wrangles his opponent to the ground, grappling him from behind and getting in his hooks.
With the body triangle in play, St. Denis starts clubbing Ruffy on both sides of the head. This softens the Brazilian up, so that St. Denis can fasten a rear-naked choke grip on the chin.
Ruffy is tucking in his chin to protect his neck, and St. Denis squeezes with everything he has. Ruffy is calm and composed, but the face crank is crushing his skull as the French fighter is empowered by the audience that is going positively bonkers at this point. St. Denis does not relent with his vice grip on the jaw, and Ruffy’s eyes go wide as he has tap out with the end of his fingers from the nasty submission.
At that moment, no one in the building can hear themselves think, as the legion of screaming masses explode in support of the man named “God of War.” Until today, Ruffy had never been submitted. He won’t be able to say that anymore, but he is nothing but gracious and professional as he congratulates St. Denis for beating him. That makes 11 finishes this evening, tying the UFC’s single-event record. What a night it has been, and we still have one more to go.
The Official Result
Benoit St. Denis def. Mauricio Ruffy R2 2:56 via Submission (Face Crank)
Expert Picks (6)
Angelo picks Maurício Ruffy confidently, criticizing the hype around Saint Denis. He points out Saint Denis' losses where he was dominated, and argues that Ruffy's dynamic striking and takedown defense will be too much. He believes Ruffy will 'style on' Saint Denis and land clean, big shots. He plans to parlay and bet on Ruffy but is waiting for the line to tighten further.
Big Brady picks Maurício Ruffy, believing he will dominate on the feet. He notes Saint Denis has poor striking defense (41%) and has been knocked out before. He thinks if Saint Denis cannot get takedowns, he is in trouble. He predicts a first-round knockout.
Connor picks Ruffy, believing he might knock Saint Denis out. He notes that Saint Denis has a Patrick Cummins-like ability to take clean shots and that his defensive flaws are severe. Connor thinks Ruffy's accuracy and power will find a home, and that Saint Denis's aggressive style plays into Ruffy's hands. He acknowledges that Ruffy's level of competition is questionable but sees the potential for a spectacular finish.
The host acknowledges Ruffy's flashy knockout style and fan support but believes he is not ready for Saint Denis's grapple-heavy, smothering approach. He expects Saint Denis to grapple Ruffy, take his back, and sink in a rear-naked choke for a submission victory.
The Guru picks Maurício Ruffy with high confidence, citing Ruffy's speed, shot selection, and ability to set traps. He criticizes Saint Denis' slow, chin-up striking and believes he is ripe for a knockout. He predicts a first-round KO, comparing it to McGregor vs Aldo, and dismisses concerns about Ruffy's grappling.
Zane picks Saint Denis because he knows what Saint Denis will do—aggressive pressure and physicality—and he doubts Ruffy is ready for that sustained onslaught. He notes that Ruffy's wins have come against inferior athletes and that his trick-striking style may not hold up against a relentless forward fighter. He acknowledges that Saint Denis is vulnerable defensively and may gas, but believes his pace will overwhelm Ruffy.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 54 of 70 | 77% | 77 of 103 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 2 | 0 | 5:32 |
| Kyle Prepolec | 0 | 12 of 27 | 44% | 14 of 29 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 10 of 16 | 62% | 27 of 43 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 | 0 | 4:32 |
| Kyle Prepolec | 0 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 44 of 54 | 81% | 50 of 60 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1:00 |
| Kyle Prepolec | 0 | 12 of 26 | 46% | 14 of 28 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benoît Saint Denis | 54 of 70 | 77% | 36 of 51 | 11 of 12 | 7 of 7 | 24 of 33 | 22 of 24 | 8 of 13 |
| Kyle Prepolec | 12 of 27 | 44% | 11 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 24 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benoît Saint Denis | 10 of 16 | 62% | 7 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 13 |
| Kyle Prepolec | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Benoît Saint Denis | 44 of 54 | 81% | 29 of 38 | 10 of 11 | 5 of 5 | 22 of 30 | 22 of 24 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyle Prepolec | 12 of 26 | 46% | 11 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 23 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: St. Denis (-1100), Prepolec (+700)
Round 1
On short notice, the hard-charging St. Denis (13-3, 1 NC; 5-3 UFC) went from facing Joel Alvarez to drawing streaking Prepolec (18-8, 0-2 UFC) on his comeback tour after washing out of the UFC in 2019 with two losses. The 27 finishes across the two’s 31 total victories means that referee Luc Lefebvre is almost certainly going to get involved before this is all over. They touch gloves, glad to be still fighting on this event, and then the lightweights let one another have it. St. Denis is the first to engage with a low kick, and he lands a second before shooting in for a double. Prepolec is easily taken down, and he defends on his back by fishing for a kimura. The Canadian is able to scoot his way to the fence while clinging to the right arm of his opponent, but St. Denis ignores it as he looks to get a hook in and take the back while Prepolec is seated. The crowd grows restless as St. Denis hangs on the back, fighting the grip but stuck unable to improve his position. St. Denis calmly wriggles his arm out, which he uses to start slugging Prepolec with punches and elbows, a few landing to the back of the head. St. Denis fastens a rear-naked choke that is on the chin, and he releases it to further beat on the late replacement. St. Denis tugs on Prepolec’s face with his hand before switching to go for a rear-naked choke on the other side. Prepolec toughs out to fight to his feet, but St. Denis instantly mat returns him in the open cage. St. Denis fastens the body triangle around the waist and hunts for chokes, unable to get the forearm under the chin and just squeezing the Canadian’s face. Prepolec turns to his knees after breaking the grip, and St. Denis knees him in the side of the head legally and jumps on his back when Prepolec stands. St. Denis secures a rear-naked choke grip that is firmly on the jaw, and he crushes it down as hard as he can. Prepolec turns his head to relieve the pressure, and the one-sided round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Round 2
The lightweights touch gloves, and Prepolec knows St. Denis is coming hard and nails him with a clean left hand. St. Denis shows immediate swelling from the power punch and shoots for a takedown, but Prepolec defends it. St. Denis bears down on him, connecting with several swarming punches until Prepolec pushes off and jams a finger into his eye. St. Denis protests, and Lefebvre pauses the action for a couple dozen seconds. When they restart, Prepolec catches St. Denis again with a power punch, and St. Denis gather his thoughts and attacks recklessly. Prepolec tags him again, and he gets bullied back to the fence where St. Denis elbows him hard instead of taking him down. St. Denis hurts Prepolec with elbows and mixes in another takedown effort, but he bails on it and loads up when they separate to knock Prepolec’s head around. St. Denis gets his man to the wall and starts battering him with elbows, and he rips knees to the body. Prepolec goes to the body with punches, but St. Denis is drilling him with elbows that he cannot seem to avoid. St. Denis wraps his arm around his foe’s waist and wrenches him to the ground, where he climbs into half guard and wraps up a crushing arm-triangle choke almost immediately. The Canadian steps over to the side, and the moment he does, the late replacement knows his goose is cooked and surrenders. St. Denis releases the grip and does not go off to celebrate, instead embracing his fallen foe and presumably thanking him for taking the fight. With the stoppage victory, “God of War” is once again in the win column, and his 100% finish rate stays intact.
The Official Result
Benoit St. Denis def. Kyle Prepolec R2 2:35 via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
Expert Picks (5)
Big Brady is extremely confident in Saint Denis, calling the fight a 'sanctioned murder'. He notes Prepolec is a low-level replacement on short notice, who previously went 0-2 in the UFC. He predicts Saint Denis will win easily, either by knockout or submission in the first round, and likely earn a $50k bonus.
Connor picks Benoît Saint Denis, agreeing that Prepolec is a regional-level fighter who cannot handle Saint Denis's pressure and wrestling. He notes that Prepolec's opponents have a combined record of 44-38 and that even a washed Shane Campbell out-hustled him. Connor sees this as a clear win for Saint Denis.
The host believes Saint Denis is too strong a grappler for Prepolec, who is on short notice. He expects Saint Denis to wear Prepolec down and secure a submission within the first round and a half.
The MMA Guru picks Saint Denis, calling it a career-saving matchup. He notes Prepolec's poor UFC history, inactivity, and injuries, while Saint Denis is a heavy favorite. He expects a first or second round finish, possibly a TKO, as Prepolec is a sacrificial lamb. He mentions the odds are crazy but agrees with the pick.
Zane picks Benoît Saint Denis, arguing that Prepolec is a much less potent version of Saint Denis and could not handle Austin Hubbard's wrestling. He notes that Saint Denis will swarm into Prepolec, grab his waist, and drag him into hell with top control. Zane believes this is a straightforward mismatch.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renato Moicano | 0 | 50 of 72 | 69% | 72 of 98 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 4:53 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 25 of 60 | 41% | 35 of 70 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renato Moicano | 0 | 35 of 40 | 87% | 57 of 66 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:37 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 4 of 5 | 80% | 12 of 13 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Renato Moicano | 0 | 15 of 32 | 46% | 15 of 32 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 21 of 55 | 38% | 23 of 57 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renato Moicano | 50 of 72 | 69% | 46 of 66 | 0 of 1 | 4 of 5 | 17 of 35 | 0 of 1 | 33 of 36 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 25 of 60 | 41% | 13 of 44 | 10 of 14 | 2 of 2 | 25 of 60 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renato Moicano | 35 of 40 | 87% | 34 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 33 of 36 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 4 of 5 | 80% | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Renato Moicano | 15 of 32 | 46% | 12 of 28 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 3 | 15 of 31 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 21 of 55 | 38% | 13 of 44 | 7 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 21 of 55 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
At long last, the main attraction is upon us. Five rounds or fewer of lightweight action and intensity. Savvy grappler Carneiro (19-5-1, 11-5 UFC) would normally be the fan-favorite were it not for the venue in which he is competing. Instead, the Parisians go nuts for St. Denis (13-2, 1 NC; 5-2 UFC), who is determined to make another climb up the ranks all while retaining his 100% finish rate. These two are amped up and ready to unleash fire and fury on one another, and they likely will do just that when referee Marc Goddard says go. There is still plenty of respect between them even as they prepare to lop one another’s head off, as shown by a respectful tap of gloves to seal the cage. It’s on with the show. Carneiro strikes first with a low kick, and not to be outdone, St. Denis returns fire with a front kick and his own leg kick. “Moicano” attacks with another low kick, and he latches onto the Frenchman, clasping his arms around the waist and hurling him to his back. St. Denis uses butterfly hooks as soon as he hits his back to prevent Carneiro from settling down on top of him, kicking the Brazilian off briefly. Moicano leaps back on top, getting to half guard and hooking his leg around his opponent’s to keep him there. St. Denis sits up, and Carneiro is ready to take advantage of a momentary lapse. St. Denis gets up, and “Moicano” hops on to become a malicious backpack. St. Denis turns over, giving up his back completely, and Carneiro takes it and locks up the body triangle. St. Denis turns back and forth, and Carneiro smashes him with elbows that slash him wide open. Blood sprays from an open wound, as Carneiro beats down the local favorite. Carneiro postures up, holding one fist on the fence to get leverage to hack down with his free arm, and the blood is flowing freely. Carneiro gets dragged to the full guard, and he finds openings and attacks with ferocious ground-and-pound. St. Denis pushes Carneiro off of him and gives up his back again, and “Moicano” happily takes it in the blink of an eye. Carneiro locks up the body triangle, and he lets St. Denis turn around to his back so he can bulldoze the betting favorite with more ruthless elbows. St. Denis’ face transforms to a crimson mask as Carneiro clobbers him, and St. Denis is hanging tough but firmly in survival mode. Carneiro lowers himself down to conclude the round, and it remains to be seen if the cuts under St. Denis’ eyebrow are cleared by the doctors.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Carneiro
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Carneiro
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Carneiro
Round 2
The Frenchman is cleared to continue, lumped up and busted after just five one-sided minutes of pain. He begins the round, meandering forward ready to throw bombs. Carneiro stays in one place a bit too long, and he eats a huge left hand that stuns him. St. Denis slowly stalks him down, but his vision is obscured by swelling on both eyes. “Moicano” lands a right hand and misses with a knee, and St. Denis fires a head kick at him. The jab from St. Denis finds its home, and he aims one to the body and whiffs on a hook. Carneiro slips and counters a punch with a right hand, and he shoots for a takedown but hits a wall. Carneiro circles around, picking his shots carefully while letting St. Denis’ face close up more. St. Denis follows after him with long, straight punches, and he gets caught with a solid left. Carneiro re-opens the wounds above St. Denis’ eye, and he is a veritable horror show at this point. St. Denis is tough as nails, lunging forward to attack, but he finds a Carneiro who wants to take him down but cannot. St. Denis trades hands, somehow finding his target every so often even though his vision likely is but a fraction of what it would be normally. St. Denis stifles another takedown and gets off an uppercut, before ringing a kick to the ribs. St. Denis goes high with his shin, parrying a jab and a front kick to end the round bloody as can be.
Goddard calls in the doctor to assess the French fighter’s condition, checking his vision as both eyes are nearly swollen shut. While he passes the first test, sight in his right eye has failed him. St. Denis informs the physician that he cannot see out of it, and the doctor has no choice but to tell Goddard this fight should be stopped. It is a disappointing ending to what was shaping up to be quite interesting, but it was a definitive conclusion given the massive damage inflicted to the visage of “God of War.”
In his post-fight interview, “Moicano” goes off on multiple tangents about his visit to the Louvre, how democracy is a fallacy and that Paddy Pimblett is easy money. Bemused commentator Michael Bisping holds the microphone in front of his face until the producers likely tell him to cut it. With UFC Paris now in the books, next week, the UFC takes to Salt Lake City with a pair of titles on the line. We will be here for it, and we hope you are too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
The Official Result
Renato Carneiro def. Benoit St. Denis R2 5:00 via TKO (Doctor Stoppage)
Expert Picks (10)
Angelo picks Benoît Saint Denis, believing his all-gas-no-brakes pressure and grappling will be too much for Moicano. He notes that Moicano has a shaky chin and is not dangerous enough to stop Saint Denis's forward pressure. He references Saint Denis's dominant first round against Dustin Poirier, suggesting that same level of pressure will overwhelm Moicano. He dismisses the staph infection excuse as a potential factor but leans toward Saint Denis's performance being legitimate.
Big Brady picks Benoît Saint Denis by first-round knockout, describing him as a beast who pushes a crazy pace with power in his hands and body kicks. He notes Moicano's chin has always been an issue and Saint Denis will bring a car crash that Moicano won't survive. He expects an early finish.
Cody believes BSD is a legitimate future title challenger with relentless pressure, top-notch grappling, and physicality. He excuses BSD's loss to Dustin Poirier due to a staph infection and thinks a healthy BSD would have won. He sees Moicano's questionable chin and cardio as vulnerabilities, and expects BSD to overwhelm him with pace and aggression.
Cody picks Benoît Saint Denis as his cash game play, citing his elite fantasy scoring in wins (109, 149, 115, 136, 105) and his aggression and wrestling ability. He notes that Saint Denis is a heavy favorite at minus 300 and has a minus 200 line to win inside the distance. Cody acknowledges that Moicano is a better technical fighter and could be a valuable tournament target, but Moicano's durability issues make Saint Denis the safer cash game pick.
Connor picks Saint Denis because he believes Saint Denis's relentless pressure and physicality will overwhelm Moicano, who often gets hurt early and relies on wrestling to recover. He notes that Saint Denis is a strong scrambler and has never been held down, making Moicano's path to victory difficult. Connor acknowledges that Moicano could win if he survives the early onslaught, but he doubts Moicano can consistently find his grappling outlet against Saint Denis's pace.
Daniel Vreeland picks Benoît Saint Denis to win by TKO. He believes BSD's pressure, power, and body kicks will be too much for Moicano, who has poor striking defense and a questionable chin. He notes that Moicano is tough and has good grappling, but BSD's wrestling and ground-and-pound should secure the finish. He also mentions that the price is high at -270, but sees value in the KO prop at plus money.
JP picks Benoît Saint Denis because he thinks Saint Denis is a problem with power and toughness. He notes Saint Denis was beating Dustin Poirier before getting clipped, and he had a staph infection in that fight. He thinks Moicano gets hit too much and doesn't have the power to put Saint Denis away. He also mentions the fight is in France, which could favor the French fighter in a close decision.
Paul agrees with Cody, highlighting BSD's aggressive style, takedown ability, and durability. He notes that Moicano's path to victory via submission is unlikely against BSD's grappling. Paul also points out that Moicano's low output and cardio issues make him vulnerable in a five-round fight, especially in front of a French crowd.
The MMA Guru picks Renato Moicano over Benoît Saint Denis, emphasizing Moicano's underrated Jiu-Jitsu and significant experience advantage (9 years more as a pro). He notes Saint Denis' tendency to kick up and expose his back, which Moicano can exploit with body locks and back takes. He predicts a third-round submission via rear-naked choke after ground and pound.
Zane picks Saint Denis because he believes Saint Denis's constant pressure and pace will be too much for Moicano, who often gets hurt early and struggles to recover against relentless fighters. He notes that Moicano's best wins have come against grapplers who allow him to slow the fight down, but Saint Denis never stops coming. Zane also points out that Moicano's path to victory relies on surviving the early storm and then outworking Saint Denis, which he considers unlikely given Saint Denis's cardio and durability.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dustin Poirier | 1 | 28 of 34 | 82% | 30 of 37 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 4 | 0 | 0:31 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 50 of 74 | 67% | 69 of 97 | 3 of 7 | 42% | 1 | 0 | 4:53 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dustin Poirier | 0 | 12 of 13 | 92% | 14 of 16 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0:23 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 38 of 49 | 77% | 53 of 68 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 3:20 | |
| 2 | Dustin Poirier | 1 | 16 of 21 | 76% | 16 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:08 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 12 of 25 | 48% | 16 of 29 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:33 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dustin Poirier | 28 of 34 | 82% | 24 of 30 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 23 of 25 | 4 of 8 | 1 of 1 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 50 of 74 | 67% | 25 of 46 | 18 of 20 | 7 of 8 | 17 of 37 | 31 of 35 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dustin Poirier | 12 of 13 | 92% | 11 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 10 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 38 of 49 | 77% | 21 of 31 | 10 of 10 | 7 of 8 | 13 of 22 | 23 of 25 | 2 of 2 | |
| 2 | Dustin Poirier | 16 of 21 | 76% | 13 of 18 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 15 | 1 of 5 | 1 of 1 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 12 of 25 | 48% | 4 of 15 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 15 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: St. Denis (-205), Poirier (+170)
Round 1
The co-main event is a five-rounder because reasons, and it comes between former interim beltholder Poirier (29-8, 1 NC; 21-7, 1 NC UFC) and the ultra-violent St. Denis (13-1, 1 NC; 5-1 UFC). While it has been scheduled for 25 minutes, referee Mike Beltran is ready in the likely event it does not need that long to conclude. While Poirier has beaten a litany of top-tier names, his French counterpart is shooting up the charts with finish after dramatic finish. The excitement begins with a touch of gloves, and St. Denis moves right to the middle of the cage to release two quick low kicks. Poirier responds with one that is much heavier, and St. Denis punches his way into a takedown attempt. Poirier jumps guard with a guillotine choke, and St. Denis wrenches his neck out and slides around to turn the corner and cover Poirier on the side. St. Denis knees Poirier on the side of the thigh as he clings to him, with Poirier leaning on the cage wall. Poirier tells Beltran that his foe is grabbing his gloves, and Beltran mentions that St. Denis shouldn’t. Poirier again says his gloves are being grabbed, and St. Denis jumps onto his back to take it and fish for something. Poirier slides him off the back, and he eats two punches and snatches up a guillotine choke when St. Denis attacks for a takedown. St. Denis breaks off and gets out of it again, and he starts throwing hands and elbows. Poirier takes punishment as he presses forward, and he hunts for a single and then chains it to a double that he uses to sit St. Denis on the ground. St. Denis successfully sweeps him with a kimura, and he stands back up and elbows Poirier several times. Poirier clips him with a right hand, and he backs off and takes a few punches on the chin and smiles. St. Denis presses ahead and goes for a single, and Poirier attacks a guillotine from a different angle. St. Denis breaks out of it and sets Poirier down, and Poirier turns to his side to get up. The Frenchman takes Poirier’s back and fastens the body triangle around the waist, and Poirier hand-fights to stop a choke setup from going anywhere. Poirier sits up even while in the body triangle, and he fights off chokes forming around from either side. Poirier waves his finger and punches St. Denis behind his own head. Poirier turns around into the guard, and St. Denis snatches up an armbar. Poirier wags his finger, and time expires before it is tight.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Round 2
Poirier jogs out of his corner, seemingly fresh, and St. Denis swipes at him with body kicks and punches. Poirier drills him with a right hand and jumps guard for a guillotine choke. St. Denis fights it off and moves to full mount as he looks for an arm-triangle choke. Poirier turns over, and he gets flattened out as St. Denis looks for a rear-naked choke. Poirier sits up and puts his back to the wall, and St. Denis goes for a brute force face crank submission. Poirier turns him around and gets back to his feet, and he eats an elbow. St. Denis pursues a single, and when that fails, he connects with an elbow and a knee. Poirier counters with a few punches, and he hunts for another guillotine but lets it go so he can get away. St. Denis reaches out with a left hand, and he gets staggered by a pair of punches and an uppercut. Poirier lines up a short right and a massive left hand, and he fastens a guillotine choke and lets it go again. St. Denis takes a breath, and he loads up for bear with everything he has left. Poirier unleashes a massive right hand from the depths of the underworld, and he knocks the Frenchman clean off his feet. St. Denis hits his back, barely conscious, and Poirier finishes the job with one devastating right hand that would make Dan Henderson proud. The crowd explodes in support of the victorious Louisianan, who walks away knowing his work here is done. What a win for Poirier, survives some tough sledding to ice an incredibly tough foe that had never been finished as a professional. It’s all gas, no brakes for the 35-year-old, who reminds everyone watching that he’s not done yet.
The Official Result
Dustin Poirier def. Benoit St. Denis R2 2:32 via KO (Punches)
Expert Picks (9)
Angelo picks Benoît Saint Denis, citing his pressure, power, and wrestling. He worries that Dustin Poirier's chin may have deteriorated after the Justin Gaethje knockout. He thinks Saint Denis can overwhelm Poirier early. However, he won't bet because he's rooting for Poirier.
Big Brady picks Benoît Saint Denis to win by second-round submission. He notes that Saint Denis is younger, hungrier, and has grappling upside. He believes Saint Denis will get Poirier down and submit him, similar to how Michael Chandler did. He acknowledges Poirier's striking advantage but thinks Saint Denis's durability and pressure will be too much.
Cody points to Poirier's declining volume and durability, noting he has been outstruck in recent fights and is showing signs of wear. He contrasts that with Saint Denis's relentless pressure, cardio, durability, and progression. He believes Saint Denis will break Poirier's will as the fight goes on.
Daniel Vreeland picks Benoît Saint Denis but expresses discomfort with the -205 price. He believes BSD's wrestling and pace will be too much for Poirier, especially given Poirier's recent knockout loss. Vreeland notes that BSD has finished all his opponents and has never been finished. However, he calls the line a 'dog or pass' spot because BSD has never fought anyone as tough as Poirier. He says he would rather see BSD fight someone like Rafael Fiziev before this step up. Despite the price, he picks BSD because he has never picked against him.
Daniel picks Poirier but is very hesitant due to Poirier's age and coming off a head kick KO loss. He acknowledges Poirier is the more skilled striker and believes he can knock out Saint Denis on the feet. However, he worries about Saint Denis's pressure, grappling, and durability, and whether Poirier still has the will and cardio to go five rounds. Daniel notes that if Poirier drops Saint Denis, he might follow him to the ground unlike against Charles Oliveira. He ultimately leans on Poirier's skill advantage.
Jeff Fox picks Benoît Saint Denis as well, noting that he has never picked against BSD and won't start now. He acknowledges the massive step up in competition from Matt Frevola to Dustin Poirier, but believes BSD's wrestling and finishing ability are real. Fox points out that Poirier has been knocked out recently and that BSD has the power to put him away. He also mentions that BSD is younger and has a relentless pace. However, he says he won't bet real money on this fight due to the price and the step up.
Saint Denis is a relentless pressure fighter with five straight finishes. He uses leg kicks, body work, and clinch pressure to break opponents, then works to the back for rear-naked chokes. Poirier is a better striker but struggles against aggressive grapplers who can close the distance, as seen in losses to Khabib and Oliveira. Poirier does not want this fight and may be mentally checked out. I expect Saint Denis to break Poirier within the first two rounds and secure a submission.
Paul emphasizes Poirier's mileage and the fact that he didn't even know the fight was on until recently, suggesting he hasn't been sparring hard. He contrasts that with Saint Denis's hunger and youth, and notes that Saint Denis has never been finished and has shown incredible durability and pace.
The MMA Guru picks Benoît Saint Denis, believing he will overwhelm Dustin Poirier with body kicks, takedowns, and pressure. He notes Poirier's wide hips and square stance make him vulnerable to body kicks, and that Poirier struggled with Chandler's body kicks. He predicts Saint Denis will finish Poirier by ground-and-pound TKO in round two, leading to Poirier's retirement.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 5 of 9 | 55% | 7 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:25 |
| Matt Frevola | 1 | 6 of 11 | 54% | 10 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:19 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 5 of 9 | 55% | 7 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:25 |
| Matt Frevola | 1 | 6 of 11 | 54% | 10 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:19 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benoît Saint Denis | 5 of 9 | 55% | 2 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Matt Frevola | 6 of 11 | 54% | 3 of 7 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benoît Saint Denis | 5 of 9 | 55% | 2 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Matt Frevola | 6 of 11 | 54% | 3 of 7 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: St. Denis (-230), Frevola (+190)
Round 1
Referee Mike Beltran cannot blink as he watches over this lightweight banger. Three first-round knockouts in a row bolster the recent resume of New York native Frevola (11-3-1, 5-3-1 UFC), while French foe St. Denis (12-1, 1 NC; 4-1 UFC) has performed four straight finishes on his own right. Before the flurries of fists and feet that are sure to bless the cage commence, the contenders-to-be tap their fists together. St. Denis introduces himself with a head kick, and Frevola leans back to dodge it. Frevola kicks low, and when he attempts to throw hands, St. Denis catches him on the way in with another low kick that may have grazed the cup. St. Denis aims a kick to the body, and Frevola does the same. A kick from Frevola makes him stumble, and St. Denis rushes towards him and jumps guard with a guillotine choke. Frevola escapes the danger, stands back up, lifts the Frenchman in the air and slams him down. St. Denis is able to power back up, and when he pushes Frevola back to the fence, he absorbs a stern knee to his guts. Frevola breaks off, circling away to reset, but the French fighter gives chase. St. Denis chambers and launches his left shin at the dome, and it clatters off Frevola’s forehead and puts him all the way out. St. Denis, not sure if Frevola was still with it, drops to his knees and clobbers an unconscious Frevola with a few left hands, all while Beltran sprints towards them to stop the fight. Frevola comes to shortly after, and there is absolutely no ill will between the two, as they salute one another and thank the other for their personal previous military services. What a spectacular knockout!
The Official Result
Benoit St. Denis def. Matt Frevola R1 1:31 via KO (Head Kick)
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Frevola, citing his confidence, win streak, and fighting in New York. He acknowledges Saint Denis is tough but thinks Frevola can sneak out a win. He is watching the line movement and may bet if Frevola becomes a bigger dog.
Big Brady picks Benoît Saint Denis to win by first-round knockout. He thinks Saint Denis has more avenues to win, including dangerous grappling and power. He worries about Frevola's durability, noting he has been knocked out quickly before. Brady expects a war where Saint Denis lands something big and finishes Frevola.
Cody picks Saint Denis but is hesitant, acknowledging Frevola's skills and the value at +185. He worries about Frevola's chin, noting he's been knocked out by lesser punchers. He thinks Saint Denis has better durability and will win a brawl, but feels like a 'coward' for not taking the dog.
James picks Benoît Saint Denis but is hesitant, noting the line is too wide at -230. He thinks it should be around -140. He believes BSD has more tools on the feet, including body kicks, and has cardio and knockout upside. However, he acknowledges Frevola is live as an underdog, having won three swinging contests in a row, and BSD is hittable and was knocked out by Zaleski. He expects a swinging match and considers the under 1.5 rounds but is not enticed at -150.
Saint Denis will wear on Frevola with his aggressive wrestling and grappling. He will exchange in the pocket to open up takedowns, then take Frevola to the mat and smash him from top position. Expects a finish by TKO or submission in the second or third round. Frevola's durability is a question mark.
Paul picks Saint Denis, citing his durability and toughness from his military background. He thinks Saint Denis can take damage and make the fight ugly, while Frevola has questionable durability. He notes Saint Denis's grappling and strength at 155 will be key.
The MMA Guru picks Matt Frevola as his underdog of the card. He thinks Frevola has nasty power and good wrestling, and that Saint Denis leaves his chin open when swinging against the cage. He predicts Frevola will catch Saint Denis with a left hook, similar to his finishes of Dober and Aitar, and win by KO at the end of round one.
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: St. Denis (-155), Moises (+130)
Round 1
In this lightweight “featured fight of the night,” these two men come into this battle with the ultra-rare distinction of their recent wins both coming by face crank. To note, they attempted rear-naked chokes, but elected to crush the jaws of their opponents to force taps, rather than sliding their forearms under chins. St. Denis (11-1, 1 NC; 3-1 UFC) tapped out surging Brazilian Ismael Bonfim in his last time out, while Moises (17-6, 6-4 UFC) put the hurt on the valiant Melquizael Costa in January. Someone’s finish streak will come to an abrupt halt shortly, and referee Lukasz Bosacki is squared away should his services be needed. Excited to get after it, the two lightweights do not bother touching them up. The crowd clearly is on the side of St. Denis, and their chants give him energy as he practically races out of his corner to strike. As St. Denis loads up on several kicks, one pounds square into the cup of the Brazilian, and Moises moans as Bosacki calls time. Moises takes about 90 seconds before getting back to action, and the audience sings the whole time. St. Denis does not stop throwing his rear leg body kick when they resume, and he slams his shin on the ribs again. On a second strike, Moises claims it went low, and Bosacki has a very difficult decision to make regarding ruling it legal or a foul. The replay shows it was close, and Moises is amped up but St. Denis is ready to hunt him down on the reset. St. Denis charges, tagging Moises with several punches and knocking him into the wall. Moises responds with a body kick, and when he gets backed to the wall, St. Denis drops down to take him down. Moises keeps his footing but decides to drop down to a knee to protect himself from knees that would otherwise be soaring at his dome. St. Denis lets him back up so that he can connect with one flush knee, and the Brazilian bursts out of the position to reset. Moises scores a heavy low kick on the inside calf, and St. Denis shakes his leg out and knocks Moises back to the wire. Moises counters wildly, connecting flush with a huge right hand, and St. Denis is staggered. To recover, “God of War” goes after a double, and he succeeds in putting Moises on his face. Moises takes the punches on the side of the head so that he can suddenly spin around and latch on with a leg lock. St. Denis wrenches his leg out and bowls Moises over again to deliver some stern ground-and-pound. Moises keeps his offensive guard busy to keep St. Denis on his toes, but he does take a sharp elbow on the forehead in the process. St. Denis stacks his opponent up and lands some powerful strikes, and he shreds open a huge cut on Moises’ temple. Moises rolls for a sneaky kneebar, and St. Denis pulls out of it as the two get back to their feet. The lightweights proceed to slug it out ferociously, both cracking the other and getting rocked in a terrific exchange that only ends when the bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Round 2
The cut on Moises’ face is largely sealed between rounds, but St. Denis is ready to punch that target repeatedly as the round begins. St. Denis rushes out of his corner to trade leather, and as soon as Moises sits down on counters, the Frenchman changes levels and drags Moises to a knee. St. Denis drives his knee to the thigh as the crowd cheers for every strike he lands as if it were a muay thai banger in Lumpinee Stadium. Moises gets stuck on his knee as St. Denis beats on him, and he powers upright and out of the bad position as blood leaks from his visage. St. Denis paws at it with his fist, and his left hand splits the guard a few times. St. Denis slams his shin off the raised guard, and Moises swings for the fences with counter shots. One such power strike makes St. Denis slow down for a moment, with a bit of a mark forming under St. Denis’ right eye. Moises changes things up and attacks for a takedown, and he sets St. Denis down. Much to the delight of the audience, St. Denis springs back to his feet, and the two men trade vicious elbows on the inside. St. Denis muscles Moises down to his knees, and he whacks him with several right hands as Moises appears to be fading. St. Denis allows Moises to stand just so he can irritate him with a sudden mat return, and his right hand continues to bounce off Moises’ head and guard. The Brazilian is turtled up against the cage, and St. Denis lays into him with fists that make Bosacki take a close look at the action.
St. Denis unloads with knees to the side, and he rains down a lengthy barrage of right hands in pursuit of a finish. Bosacki gives Moises every bit of time to defend himself or improve his position, but St. Denis will not allow Moises to get up. Instead, the French fighter rains down one final stream of right hands that keep getting through, and Bosacki deems Moises is no longer intelligently defending himself.
The crowd explodes in favor of “God of War,” as he puts French competitors at 4-1 thus far against foreign opponents – as Gomis vs. Ghemmouri came between two men hailing from L’Hexagone.
The Official Result
Benoit St. Denis def. Thiago Moises R2 4:44 via TKO (Punches)
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 14 of 24 | 58% | 15 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Ismael Bonfim | 0 | 13 of 33 | 39% | 35 of 58 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 2 | 0 | 2:57 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 14 of 24 | 58% | 15 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Ismael Bonfim | 0 | 13 of 33 | 39% | 35 of 58 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 2 | 0 | 2:57 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benoît Saint Denis | 14 of 24 | 58% | 9 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 8 of 18 | 5 of 5 | 1 of 1 |
| Ismael Bonfim | 13 of 33 | 39% | 3 of 18 | 10 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 29 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benoît Saint Denis | 14 of 24 | 58% | 9 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 8 of 18 | 5 of 5 | 1 of 1 |
| Ismael Bonfim | 13 of 33 | 39% | 3 of 18 | 10 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 29 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Bonfim (-295), St. Denis (+245)
Round 1
From one group of finishers to another the UFC goes, this time at lightweight. Even though Bonfim (19-3, 1-0 UFC) has gone the distance in three of his last four, that is an aberration for the Brazilian had earned 12 of his previous 15 wins via stoppage. Looking to match him and then some is France’s St. Denis (10-1, 1 NC; 2-1 UFC), with 10 victories all inside the distance. Referee Herb Dean dons his proverbial hard hat before the two fighters get after it, and they start things off with a glove touch. The two immediately start gunning for one another, as St. Denis lines up several kicks to the body and head. Bonfim responds with huge counters, and he points to his body and urges St. Denis to come on keep kicking him. St. Denis obliges, hammering the ribs with kick after kick, and Bonfim blocks some of them and comes out swinging, but his big hooks miss. St. Denis backs him away with a swinging high kick, and he ducks a massive overhand right to secure a takedown and dump Bonfim on his back. Bonfim appears frustrated, and as he makes faces, St. Denis slices straight into full mount. The Frenchman works the body, and as he gets a little complacent, Bonfim sweeps him and turns him over. This results in a scramble that forces them both upright, and St. Denis kicks the body again and smacks Bonfim with a left hook. Bonfim bites down on his mouthpiece and flings a massive right hook, and St. Denis takes it flush and presses forward. Bonfim intercepts him with a stern knee, and St. Denis is stung but he still has the wherewithal to dive after a single-leg takedown. Bonfim sprawls and aims a knee at the chin, and St. Denis leans back just in the nick of time. St. Denis advances and lets loose two kicks before shooting for a double, and he changes to a single. When that too fails, he elects to switch to a body lock to toss Bonfim down, but Bonfim keeps his balance by leaning his gloves on the mat. St. Denis uses his body weight to lower Bonfim to the floor, and he takes the back when Bonfim rolls. St. Denis secures both hooks with a minute to spare, and he starts fishing for a choke. Bonfim hand-fights well to defend from a choke getting set up, but St. Denis clamps onto a neck crank as he turns it to the side.
Bonfim wriggles out his head just enough, until the forearm of his opponent crushes down on his jaw. The rear-naked choke grip is not under the chin, so St. Denis decides to simply crank on the face with the full extent of his power. The pain maneuver is enough to force a surrender from the surging Bonfim,
who bids farewell to a 13-fight win streak thanks to the vice-like squeeze of “God of War.” The victorious Frenchman retains his 100% finish rate, and he now celebrates nine subs in his 11 triumphs.
The Official Result
Benoit St. Denis def. Ismael Bonfim R1 4:48 via Submission (Face Crank)
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Ismael Bonfim due to his incredible power and impressive debut. However, he advises caution because Bonfim is still unproven and Saint Denis is a tough opponent with good wrestling. He notes Bonfim's boxing and BJJ but questions his cardio and takedown defense. He calls it a low confidence pick.
Big Brady picks Ismael Bonfim to win by third-round knockout. He believes Bonfim is the much better striker with power, and though his striking defense is a liability, Saint Denis is hittable and has been finished before. He notes Bonfim's takedown defense has improved, so Saint Denis won't be able to grapple. He expects Bonfim to land repeatedly and get a late finish.
Cody is high on Bonfim, calling him the real deal with good movement, power, accuracy, and solid takedown defense. He notes Bonfim's wins over tough competition on Contender Series and Terrence McKinney. He sees Saint Denis as an all-action brawler who is hittable and has a good chin but will be overwhelmed by Bonfim's precision. Cody expects Bonfim to win by knockout or clear decision.
Daniel confidently picks Bonfim, citing his polished boxing, feints, timing, and well-rounded game. He notes Saint Denis is tough and durable but his striking is less polished, and Bonfim is comfortable on the ground as well. He believes the striking gap is significant and that Bonfim covers Saint Denis across the board. He missed the opening line (-250) and won't bet at -310, but expects Bonfim to win.
James says he has not taped this fight yet and does not have an opinion. He notes that Benoît Saint Denis is tough but may be outmatched, and that Ismael Bonfim is favored on the feet. He suggests the over might be an angle but needs to do more tape.
Paul thinks the line is a bit out of hand but still picks Bonfim. He notes Saint Denis is capable of making it a war and has value at +260, but Bonfim's skills are superior. Paul mentions the judges can be unpredictable, but Bonfim should win if it's close.
The Guru picks Ismael Bonfim, calling it a no-brainer. He highlights Bonfim's impressive win over Terence McKinney via flying knee KO and his strong grappling and takedown defense. He predicts Bonfim will stuff Saint Denis's takedowns and get a second-round TKO, as Saint Denis will hesitate and get broken down.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benoît Saint Denis | 3 | 42 of 67 | 62% | 81 of 110 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:17 |
| Gabriel Miranda | 0 | 20 of 37 | 54% | 33 of 53 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:20 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benoît Saint Denis | 2 | 35 of 56 | 62% | 74 of 99 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:14 |
| Gabriel Miranda | 0 | 18 of 34 | 52% | 31 of 50 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:20 | |
| 2 | Benoît Saint Denis | 1 | 7 of 11 | 63% | 7 of 11 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Gabriel Miranda | 0 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benoît Saint Denis | 42 of 67 | 62% | 35 of 59 | 5 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 24 of 43 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 22 |
| Gabriel Miranda | 20 of 37 | 54% | 13 of 30 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 34 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benoît Saint Denis | 35 of 56 | 62% | 29 of 49 | 5 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 20 of 35 | 2 of 2 | 13 of 19 |
| Gabriel Miranda | 18 of 34 | 52% | 11 of 27 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 31 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Benoît Saint Denis | 7 of 11 | 63% | 6 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 |
| Gabriel Miranda | 2 of 3 | 66% | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: St. Denis (-265), Miranda (+225)
Round 1
If this next fight were summed up in one word, it might be “submission.” Combined, France’s St. Denis (9-1, 1 NC; 1-1 UFC) and Brazilian debutant Miranda (16-5, 0-0 UFC) have recorded 23 submissions of the tap or nap variety across their 25 total wins. On the other hand, neither has ever surrendered via sub, so it remains to be seen how these two lightweights and their 100% finish rates stack up. As a note, St. Denis becomes the first fighter from France to compete on a French card in the UFC, and the crowd is deafening for his entrance. Few preliminary competitors in the history of the promotion have received a louder reception than St. Denis did than when his feet hit the cage floor. Referee Jason Herzog is ready for anywhere the fight goes, and he sharply inhales as the two touch gloves ahead of what could be a wild pairing. St. Denis slowly works his way forward, landing a body kick that surprises and hurts Miranda immediately. Miranda looks to change levels, and he gets thrown to his back by the Frenchman. This is not the worst place for him, as Miranda fishes for submissions off his back until St. Denis stands up to let him go. Miranda charges in when they are both upright to tackle St. Denis over, and after they both gain top position briefly, Miranda claims the top spot. St. Denis keeps moving and gets up, and Miranda grabs hold of a guillotine choke on the way. St. Denis wriggles his neck out, and the two engage in a ferocious brawl of feet and fists. Both men get stunned, and Miranda appears to get the better of it and rushes in forward. As he does, “God of War” spins with a back fist that clips the Brazilian, and Miranda falls forward in pursuit of a takedown. St. Denis stuffs it, turns him around and puts Miranda on his back. St. Denis postures up and delivers some powerful punches from above, and he stands up to lord over his foe with standing-to-ground blows. Miranda tries to tag him with upkicks, and St. Denis lowers himself into the guard as Miranda hunts for the left arm of his man. Herzog asks if St. Denis will let him up, and he intervenes when there is a lull in the action. Miranda sticks out a body kick, and St. Denis responds in kind. St. Denis swings with everything he has, blasting Miranda in the face and putting him down to the ground. It might not have been a typical knockdown as he follows Miranda down with heavy blows, and St. Denis lands in side control and starts smashing Miranda in the face with his fists. St. Denis looks for an arm-triangle choke, but when there is nothing there, he hammers down with elbows and punches. The constant strikes from the Frenchman open up a cut on the side of Miranda’s eye, and Miranda bucks to kick St. Denis off of him and they stand up with 15 seconds to go. St. Denis unloads with three brutal overhand rights, and he knocks a fatiguing Miranda down at the tail end of the round. When St. Denis looks to seal the deal, the horn sounds, but it is so loud in the building that he cannot hear the stoppage and Herzog has to pull them apart. What a round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 St. Denis
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 St. Denis
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 St. Denis
Round 2
When the second round begins, it is clear that Miranda is not recovered from the shellacking he received at the conclusion of the previous frame. His legs are not quite beneath him yet, and St. Denis takes full advantage of that as soon as Herzog says “fight.”
St. Denis rushes in to start throwing bombs, and although Miranda responds with a few blows of his own, it is St. Denis who powers forward with a massive right hand. The blow shakes the debuting Miranda to his core, and he falls down to the mat on his side. The finish is right around the corner, and “God of War” unleashes a fury with a couple more concussive left hands until Herzog has seen enough,
and the roof practically blows off in favor of the local fighter. Various chants rain down in the building in support of St. Denis, loud enough to shake the walls of the Accor Arena and drown out most of the broadcast team. If this victory is any indication of how receptive the crowd will be towards French fighters, this fight card could truly be one to remember.
The Official Result
Benoit St. Denis def. Gabriel Miranda R2 0:16 via TKO (Punches)
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Benoît Saint Denis because he is the better MMA fighter and has good wrestling and top pressure. He warns that Benoît should avoid going to the ground with Miranda, who is a slick BJJ guy. He hopes Benoît keeps it standing and uses elbows from top if it goes to the ground. No bets on this fight yet.
Big Brady picks Benoît Saint Denis to win by finish in the second round. He notes that Miranda is dangerous early with submissions but gasses after the first round, and Saint Denis can weather the storm and take over. He expects Saint Denis to eventually finish Miranda via TKO or submission once Miranda tires.
Cody picks Benoît Saint Denis confidently, citing his durability, wrestling, and pressure. He notes that Gabriel Miranda has a padded record with wins over low-level competition and has never faced anyone near Saint Denis's level. Saint Denis is a strong grappler with good cardio, and Miranda's only path is a submission off his back, which is unlikely. Cody likes the over 1.5 rounds prop and believes Saint Denis will dominate.
Daniel Levi is confident in Benoît Saint Denis, citing his toughness and size advantage. He notes that Miranda is too small for lightweight and that Saint Denis will likely dominate with wrestling and pressure. He expects Saint Denis to cover the -285 price.
The host is confident in Benoît Saint Denis due to his relentless pace, cardio, and finishing ability. He notes that both fighters are early finishers, but Saint Denis's superior cardio will allow him to outlast Miranda, who tends to fade after the first round. He expects a finish in the second or third round.
Paul also picks Benoît Saint Denis, agreeing with Cody. He highlights Saint Denis's durability and grappling, and notes that Miranda's record is suspicious. Paul is concerned about the -275 price but thinks Saint Denis should win, possibly by submission.
The MMA Guru picks Benoît Saint Denis over Gabriel Miranda, despite some worry about Miranda's cardio from MMA Masters. He believes Saint Denis is strong for the division and will use his stockier build to overpower Miranda, who is tall and lanky. He predicts Saint Denis will get a submission win in the first round by throwing Miranda around.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 11 of 14 | 78% | 20 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Niklas Stolze | 0 | 8 of 10 | 80% | 41 of 48 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 2 | 0 | 5:44 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 6 of 7 | 85% | 15 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Niklas Stolze | 0 | 5 of 7 | 71% | 32 of 39 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 | 0 | 4:34 | |
| 2 | Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 5 of 7 | 71% | 5 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Niklas Stolze | 0 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 9 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1:10 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benoît Saint Denis | 11 of 14 | 78% | 3 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 3 of 4 | 6 of 9 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 |
| Niklas Stolze | 8 of 10 | 80% | 4 of 5 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benoît Saint Denis | 6 of 7 | 85% | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
| Niklas Stolze | 5 of 7 | 71% | 2 of 3 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | |
| 2 | Benoît Saint Denis | 5 of 7 | 71% | 1 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Niklas Stolze | 3 of 3 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: St. Denis (-160), Stolze (+140)
Round 1
With each coming off of disappointing losses, welterweights Stolze (12-5, 0-2 UFC) and St. Denis (8-1, 1 NC; 0-1 UFC) both decided to move down to 155 pounds to jump-start their UFC careers and pick up their first win. Two finishers by trade – Stolze with a 75% stoppage rate compared to St. Denis’ at a clean 100% – they will try to smash the hopes and dreams of the other very shortly. This classic, historic Germany vs. France battle will receive oversight from referee Mark Smith, who watches on while the fighters do decide to touch gloves. Stolze starts out firing with several loud low kicks, and St. Denis responds with a head kick that just misses the mark. Stolze continues to work lead leg kicks, and the Frenchman charges in for a takedown. Stolze catches him on the way in with a knee, and “God of War” someone eats it like a baguette and pulls Stolze down to the mat. The knee opens a large cut on the cheek, and blood has begun to flow while St. Denis holds Stolze down. Stolze sits up against the fence, only for him get flattened out as St. Denis is hanging on tight. St. Denis looks to get off a knee while lording over Stolze, but as he does not want to land one illegally, he decides to knee Stolze in the knee awkwardly. The German explodes back to his feet, and he lifts up a knee that collides with the cup and has Smith call a pause to the fight. Smith also calls in the doctor to check on the open wound on St. Denis’ face, but as it is not spraying blood or in a bad place, he is cleared. They resume in the center of the cage, and St. Denis boots Stolze in the head with his shin. St. Denis barrels forward and trips Stolze’s legs out beneath him, where he lands comfortably in side control. “God of War” advances to mount and he hangs on with an arm-triangle choke, and when Stolze moves to sit up, he gives up his back. St. Denis elects to get his hooks in and snag hold of a body triangle, and he starts fishing for any sort of neck choke or crank he can find. “Green Mask” fights the grip and defends himself from rear-naked choke danger, but St. Denis continues to work on it as he softens Stolze up with powerful punches to the side of the head. Stolze punches behind his head, and the forearm of St. Denis fastens around Stolze’s neck dangerously. Before he can get the tap, the horn sounds, and St. Denis is forced to let it go.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 St. Denis
Round 2
Stolze is the initial aggressor to start the second round, but St. Denis strikes first after backing Stolze up. A body kick from the Frenchman leads into a few punches, and Stolze cracks him on the way in. With St. Denis hurt from punches, he leans into a takedown, and Stolze snatches on to a high guillotine to channel Erin Blanchfield from earlier tonight. St. Denis is able to power through it, and he successfully dumps Stolze to the mat, where he climbs over to a three-quarter mount position quickly.
Rather than claiming mount, he gets a leg around the waist from behind and latches on to a rear-naked choke. Whether on the jaw or beneath it, St. Denis squeezes with all his might. Stolze grimaces in pain and thinks about toughing it out, but he elects to tap for the first time in his career before something breaks or he goes out.
St. Denis is now in the win column in the UFC, with all of his victories coming inside the distance.
The Official Result
Benoit St. Denis def. Niklas Stolze R2 1:32 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Expert Picks (6)
Angelo praises Benoît Saint Denis's wrestling and top pressure, but worries about how hittable he is. Niklas Stolze is a solid striker with a kickboxing background but has struggled in the UFC. Angelo thinks Saint Denis will grind out a win similar to Ramazan Emeev's approach, but cautions that if Saint Denis gets hit too much, he could be knocked out.
Big Brady picks Niklas Stolze to win by decision as an underdog. He is not sold on Benoît Saint Denis, who he thinks is very green and makes too many mistakes on the mat despite being a solid grappler. He believes Stolze is the better striker and more experienced, and that Saint Denis's submission-over-position style won't work at UFC level. He notes Stolze's loss to Jared Gooden was a KO, but he showed good moments against Ramazanov. He is not confident and plans to stay away from betting this fight.
Cody is uncertain but leans toward Stolze, noting Saint Denis' poor wrestling and striking defense. He thinks Stolze's grappling and speed could be enough, but acknowledges both fighters have unknowns. He is not confident.
Daniel Levi picks Niklas Stolze as the underdog, arguing that Saint Denis's best quality is taking punishment, which is not a reason to lay chalk. He believes Stolze has better technique and can win, though he acknowledges Saint Denis's toughness. He calls it a 'dog or pass' situation and will not bet it.
Paul picks Stolze as an underdog, citing Saint Denis' defensive liabilities and questionable chin. He notes Stolze's faster hands and better technique, and thinks he can find a finish or win a decision. He is not highly confident but sees value.
The MMA Guru picks Benoît Saint Denis to win by submission in the first round, specifically an arm triangle or D'Arce choke. He notes Stolze has a chin issue and has been finished often. He believes Saint Denis has a grappling advantage and is tougher on the feet. He references Stolze being submitted by Yakovlev and suggests Saint Denis will out-grapple him.
Oct 30, 2021
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos | 0 | 149 of 259 | 57% | 167 of 279 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:00 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 67 of 148 | 45% | 80 of 162 | 2 of 14 | 14% | 0 | 0 | 1:55 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos | 0 | 30 of 53 | 56% | 31 of 54 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 19 of 45 | 42% | 21 of 47 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:58 | |
| 2 | Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos | 0 | 94 of 160 | 58% | 106 of 173 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 28 of 67 | 41% | 37 of 76 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 0:25 | |
| 3 | Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos | 0 | 25 of 46 | 54% | 30 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:15 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 0 | 20 of 36 | 55% | 22 of 39 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:32 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos | 149 of 259 | 57% | 96 of 200 | 37 of 42 | 16 of 17 | 112 of 207 | 32 of 47 | 5 of 5 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 67 of 148 | 45% | 40 of 114 | 20 of 27 | 7 of 7 | 64 of 140 | 3 of 7 | 0 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos | 30 of 53 | 56% | 11 of 34 | 9 of 9 | 10 of 10 | 29 of 50 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 19 of 45 | 42% | 7 of 29 | 8 of 12 | 4 of 4 | 19 of 43 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos | 94 of 160 | 58% | 76 of 139 | 17 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 63 of 116 | 29 of 42 | 2 of 2 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 28 of 67 | 41% | 22 of 59 | 5 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 25 of 62 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos | 25 of 46 | 54% | 9 of 27 | 11 of 13 | 5 of 6 | 20 of 41 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 20 of 36 | 55% | 11 of 26 | 7 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 20 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
The organization has no fear in throwing new prospects to the wolves, as evidenced in this welterweight battle pitting 11-fight UFC vet Zaleski dos Santos (22-7, 8-3 UFC) against the debuting Frenchman St. Denis (8-0, 1 NC; 0-0 UFC) and his perfect record. The third man inside the Octagon is referee Vyacheslav Kiselev, and there is a sign of respect as they touch hands before getting after it. The first strike lands from Zaleski dos Santos in the form of a body kick. St. Denis answers with his own kick, but a subsequent one lands to the cup. Kiselev does not pause the fight as he did not witness it, so they play on. Zaleski dos Santos fights off a clinch try, and St. Denis punches his way into a clinch so that he can pursue a takedown. Zaleski dos Santos defends the double with a guillotine choke, but the Frenchman lifts him up and slams him down to break the grip and ground the Brazilian. “Capoeira” fights his way back up to his feet and lands a leg kick when they separate, and he scores a kick to the midsection after. The kicks continue to score effectively for the Brazilian, and every one draws a visceral reaction from the newcomer. St. Denis scores a single kick of his own low, and when he goes kick, Zaleski dos Santos chops him down with a kick to the plant leg. St. Denis loads up on a kick to the body, and Zaleski dos Santos hacks at his lead leg with a kick. They both sling hooks, and “Capoeira” slugs St. Denis in the face and rocks him badly. There is a desperation takedown from the damaged Frenchman, and Zaleski dos Santos fights it off and cannot quite make St. Denis pay for it. Zaleski dos Santos jumps up with a knee, and he blocks a high kick that flies at him. St. Denis wings a punch and get countered over the top, and he sits down on a body kick that Zaleski dos Santos ignores. St. Denis charges and swings wildly, but the punches largely do not connect. Zaleski dos Santos slings up a quick head kick and changes levels for a single, only to abandon it before it goes anywhere. St. Denis again goes after a head kick, only for Zaleski dos Santos to kick him hard on the remaining plant leg. St. Denis walks his opponent down, only for Zaleski dos Santos to land more effectively with punches, cutting angles and getting punches and kicks off. The round ends, and the two pat the other on the chest.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zaleski dos Santos
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Zaleski dos Santos
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Zaleski dos Santos
Round 2
The two get after it to start the round, spamming kicks and laying into one another with crisp punches. Zaleski dos Santos steps back from a kick to score a right hand. The Frenchman presses forward into a clinch, and Zaleski dos Santos ducks down and drills him with a right hand. Zaleski dos Santos ducks down to threaten with another takedown, and St. Denis fights it off. Getting in his groove, Zaleski dos Santos leaps forward with a knee that splits the guard. St. Denis is rocked but throwing back, and Zaleski dos Santos nails him with a few more punches. Zaleski dos Santos backs away to smash St. Denis in the face with another jump knee, and St. Denis is barely able to stay on his feet from the damage he is absorbing. “Capoeira” continues to pound on St. Denis, landing effective punches while avoid most of the looping counters. St. Denis is tough, and he shoots for a telegraphed takedown. Zaleski dos Santos stuffs it and gets back to lacing punches and knees on his opponent. Zaleski dos Santos bullies his man to the wall and smashes him with punches and knees, and Kiselev is letting St. Denis survive and giving him more than enough leeway to keep going. St. Denis falls across the cage in dire trouble, and his face is bloodied and battered as Zaleski dos Santos looks to Kiselev to intervene. The commentary booth is calling for the fight to be stopped due to the punishment that the Frenchman has absorbed, and St. Denis is able to stay on his feet. Zaleski dos Santos continues to clobber his opponent with punches as blood pours from his face, and suddenly “God of War” winds up with a punch from the underworld to rock Zaleski dos Santos. St. Denis uses his moment of success to go after a takedown, and he puts Zaleski dos Santos to his knees briefly. The Brazilian manages to fight his way back up, and they are both completely spent. Before the round even ends, Zaleski dos Santos walks back to his corner, wiped out. It is shocking this fight is still continuing, and there may be some negligence involved in how it was allowed to continue in the first place. It may behoove St. Denis’ corner to call the fight and let him fight another day.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Zaleski dos Santos
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Zaleski dos Santos
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Zaleski dos Santos
Round 3
The third round does begin, much to the chagrin of the commentary team and many viewing this one-sided pummeling. They get right to striking, and Zaleski dos Santos lands a few punches and reaches a hand out to push off the face of his opponent. The finger goes into the eye, and St. Denis claims he cannot see and there is no doctor called in. Despite this insane turn of events, Kiselev does not do anything, and he has the fight continue. This is madness. This referee should not officiate any more fights tonight, based on his sheer incompetence in this bout. When they get back to fighting, Zaleski dos Santos predictably hurts his opponent, and St. Denis falls to his back in pain. Zaleski dos Santos takes top position and easily slides out of a triangle choke setup to land a few punches. The submission is enough to make Zaleski dos Santos stand back up, and St. Denis gets his way back up as well. Zaleski dos Santos chips at his foe with kicks from a distance, and he sees the lumbering strikes that come at him from a ways away. Zaleski dos Santos sits down on a leg kick, and the pace has slowed for obvious reasons. St. Denis thumps Zaleski dos Santos with a left hand, and he pushes forward to tie him up, only to be thrown to his back. The newcomer fights his way back up to his feet, and he is showing remarkable resilience but not a lot else here. St. Denis does manage to wrestle Zaleski dos Santos to his knees, but the Brazilian powers his way back up and turns his opponent into the wire. In an exchange, a knee from “Capoeira” glances the cup on the way up, and Kiselev gives St. Denis 30 seconds to recover. Without a warning or any significant notice, Kiselev takes a point from Zaleski dos Santos.
What is happening
. They touch hands to get the last 45-second stint going, and Zaleski dos Santos attacks with kicks to the body. St. Denis can do nothing but run away, all while getting chased, so that he can survive to the final bell. He does make it after turning his back to run from absorbing any more punishment, drawing a close to a fight that should not have gone on as long as it did. Kiselev was assigned to the later Ankalaev-Oezdemir contest, and thankfully, he has already been pulled from that assignment.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 9-9 (29-26 Zaleski dos Santos)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 9-9 (29-26 Zaleski dos Santos)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 9-9 (29-26 Zaleski dos Santos)
The Official Result
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos def. Benoit St. Denis via Unanimous Decision (29-26, 29-26, 29-26)
Expert Picks (8)
Angelo picks the underdog Benoît Saint Denis, citing his wrestling style as a key advantage. He notes that Benoît's low-level takedowns and pressure on top can neutralize Zaleski's dangerous capoeira striking. However, he expresses concern about Benoît's inexperience at this level, as he is only 8-0 and this is a big step up. He mentions he would bet if the line moved to +170, but is hesitant at current odds.
Big Brady picks Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos to win by knockout in the second or third round. He views Saint Denis as too green, sloppy, and making too many mistakes. Zaleski is a well-rounded veteran with good striking and grappling. He expects Zaleski to teach Saint Denis a veteran lesson and get a finish. He is confident in the pick despite Saint Denis's finishing ability.
Cody agrees, noting Zaleski's experience and wins over Sean Strickland, Lyman Good, Max Griffin. He thinks Saint Denis will have early success with wrestling but will fatigue, and Zaleski will take over. He compares Saint Denis to a Contender Series fighter who gassed when faced with resistance.
Daniel picks Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, citing his battle-tested experience and versatility. He notes Zaleski's wins over Sean Strickland and his submission game. Daniel believes there are levels to the game and Zaleski will catch Saint Denis on a sloppy shot, possibly by submission or flying knee. He respects Saint Denis's regional success but thinks the step up in competition is too much.
Jacob picks Zaleski, believing his striking and ability to get back to his feet in scrambles will be decisive. He acknowledges Benoît's wrestling but thinks Zaleski can hold his own on the ground and win the striking exchanges. He is not super confident and dislikes the -850 line, but if forced to pick, he goes with Zaleski.
Zaleski is the more experienced veteran with good takedown defense and striking. Saint Denis is a submission hunter who gives up positions; if he doesn't finish early, Zaleski will find a knockout on the feet. Zaleski should survive the early onslaught and finish in the second round.
Paul picks Zaleski, citing his experience (12 UFC fights) and striking advantage. He thinks Saint Denis is hittable and robotic. He notes Zaleski has BJJ black belt in case it goes to the ground. He expects Zaleski to use veteran craftiness to keep it standing and eventually finish or win a decision.
The MMA Guru picks Benoît Saint Denis as an underdog. He highlights Saint Denis's great grappling, youth (25 vs 35), and activity. He notes that Zaleski has slowed down in recent fights, throwing less volume to conserve energy. He expects Saint Denis to pressure and stick to Zaleski with sticky grappling, taking him down repeatedly. He predicts a third-round submission as Zaleski fades.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!