Ciryl Gane absent, the main fight of UFC Paris this Saturday evening at the Accor Arena in Bercy (to be watched live on RMC Sport) will pit Benoît Saint Denis, the new star of French MMA, against the Brazilian Renato Moicano. A deserved position for the “God of War” given his recent career and popularity. Focus.
The big cat isn’t there. But two mice were ready to dance in his place. Headliner of UFC Paris during its first two editions, Ciryl Gane will not make it to three this Saturday at the Accor Arena in Bercy. The heavyweight, the only French fighter to have won a belt (interim title) in the largest MMA organization, will return to the octagon at the end of the year after having taken a detour into the actor box in recent months. And the question arises: who will replace “Bon Gamin” in the main event? The choice has a name. Benoît Saint Denis.
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However, he could have gone for Nassourdine Imavov, the highest ranked French representative in his category out of the nine present on the card. Fourth in the -84kg category, the “Sniper” faces the American Brendan Allen, number 7, in the fight with the highest stakes to strengthen his position among the credible challengers to the title held by the South African Dricus du Plessis. But sporting logic is not the only one that comes into play in the UFC, where business often takes priority. The organization therefore preferred to go to Saint Denis, which in recent months has become one of the big stars of French MMA, even if the “God of War” remains with a defeat by KO against Dustin Poirier in March.
A meteoric rise
“Am I offended? No. The UFC is the show, recalls Nassourdine Imavov. And Benoît puts on a show. He has the hype, I have the rankings, it could go one way or the other. other. This choice is understandable.” “The UFC places business above all else and Benoît has greater hype than Nassourdine,” says Nicolas Ott, head coach of the Imavov camp. “It’s not inconsistent.” And above all not undeserved.
Two years ago, for his third fight in the UFC, the former Special Forces soldier opened the Paris card on the French side, forever the first Frenchman to fight on our soil for the famous American organization. Two years later, he finds himself at the center of the poster. Logical given his background. “I am proud of this path which was made as a team with the sports staff, the manager, the family who put themselves aside a little to allow me to be regular in the fights and to perform well”, he says in an interview with RMC Sport.
“BSD” was still far from this status a little over a year ago. When he faces Ismael Bonfim at the beginning of July 2023, he is anything but favorite in the eyes of the specialists. But he will sign a performance that changes the vision by submitting the Brazilian in the first round. He did it again two months later by destroying another Brazilian, Thiago Moises, TKO in the second round. And two months later, it was the local Matt Frevola – present on Saturday in Paris against Farès Ziam – who fell with a sublime kick to the head in the first round in the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York to open at Saint Denis is the gateway to the top 15 in the very dense -70 kilo category. Five victories in a row, all before the limit (and even before the third round), all spectacular, with big punchlines behind the microphone. The UFC has found a new darling who meets the criteria it likes.
The Poirier legend as a reward
The reward will be superb: legend Dustin Poirier in co-main event of UFC 299 in Miami. A fight not approached in the best conditions. Affected by staphylococcus shortly before the event and forced to take antibiotics, he struggled to lose weight and arrived in the octagon empty. Too many obstacles given the opponent in front, already so hard to beat at 100% given his technical level: “BSD” was picked off and knocked out in the second round. He fell on the stage that was to take him into title discussions but still showed his heart. UFC executive boss Dana White summed up the idea after the fight: “He didn’t lose any credit.” After such an appointment, his popularity also reached a milestone. No more anonymity. Saint Denis is a star. With consequences.
“Success came so quickly, the image changed so quickly… It’s something to absorb for yourself but also for the staff, the family, the friends,” he confides. If you don’t learn to being able to manage this success in its generality, you almost fall into depression because you no longer recognize the people you work with (…) It’s especially complicated for the family, for example when you are with your family. woman in a restaurant and someone will bother you two or three times. There are people who are very respectful, who wait for you to finish eating and who come to see you, and there are people who will speak very loudly. , half jumping on you while you’re talking. The worst is the ability to understand or accept this change in status and stay yourself. You have to stay yourself because what’s wrong with you. brought you there, it’s your work, your discipline.”
Benoît Saint Denis has found his way to the hearts of the French. The fighter has his flaws, starting with not enough defensive responsibility which can allow his opponents to punish him, but his character and style have won over fans. A mission assumed. “We are all ephemeral. I will be forgotten in 20 years, so I live to please myself and the public, to fight committed fights and to develop this sport so that young people who will one day have professional careers can enjoy too. The French enjoy watching MMA today and it fills me with pride. I want to give committed fights and try to surpass myself, to go as far as possible.”
Setting the record straight
The relaunch goes through Paris, where he will be present for the third time in three editions like William Gomis, and the obstacle Renato Moicano, dangerous opponent (11th in the ranking, Saint Denis is 12th) who comes with the firm intention of “spoiling the party”. “It’s going to be a tough fight, against an experienced, complete guy who won’t give up,” announces the Frenchman. “A victory against him is a very good place in the list. May the best win. Wait you that it’s going to be war. I can’t wait.”
Some buried him or even buried him after his defeat against Poirier. But Benoît Saint Denis is ready to set the record straight and get back in charge of the big fights on the road to his ambition to become champion in MMA’s biggest organization. “It’s a sport with a very short memory and that has its advantage and its disadvantage. You can fall from very high very quickly but also rise very high very quickly. You always have to play your cards to the fullest. The UFC expects me to give a good performance and that’s what I want to give to everyone and not change the essential thing: to fight and win. I intend to fight it out.”
