Benoit Saint-Denis’ undefeated run in the UFC’s lightweight division ended against Dustin Poirier at UFC 299. Saint-Denis was scheduled to fight Joel Alvarez at UFC 315, but he pulled out due to injury — and now, the Frenchman has reportedly turned down a fight with one of Poirier’s teammates.
Saint-Denis last competed at UFC Paris, where he lost to Renato Moicano via TKO. The referee waved off the fight after the cageside doctor deemed Saint-Denis unfit to continue due to multiple cuts around his eyes.
Which Training Partner of Dustin Poirier Claimed Benoit Saint-Denis Turned Down a Fight?
Poirier trains at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida — home to a stacked group of lightweights, including Arman Tsarukyan, Mateusz Gamrot, and Grant Dawson.
It was Gamrot who called out Saint-Denis for allegedly ducking a short-notice bout. “BSD turned down the fight next week, what’s wrong with you guys? Grow some balls, cowards,” Gamrot wrote on social media.
Gamrot played a key role in Poirier’s training camp for his lightweight title fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 302. The two still go through intense sessions, as shown by Poirier’s recent friendly jab at Gamrot.
BSD turned down the fight next week, what’s wrong with you guys? Grow some balls, cowards!
— Mateusz Gamrot (@gamer_mma) May 5, 2025
Gamrot last appeared at UFC 305, where Dan Hooker snapped his three-fight win streak with a split decision. But Saint-Denis isn’t the first fighter to reportedly turn him down.
Arman Tsarukyan recently admitted to rejecting a fight offer — widely believed to be against Gamrot — due to their ranking gap. Tsarukyan is currently ranked No. 1 in the lightweight division, while Gamrot sits at No. 7.
However, it’s Gamrot who holds the edge in their head-to-head. They fought at UFC Vegas 57, where the Polish contender won a unanimous decision. Tsarukyan hasn’t lost since.
Another Lightweight Contender Also Interested in Fighting Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis has no shortage of potential opponents. After news broke that Joel Alvarez was out of UFC 315, another rising lightweight threw his name into the mix — just not for that event.
“Hey, UFC! How about a main event at a Fight Night against Saint Denis?” Mauricio Ruffy wrote (translated from Spanish).
Ei, UFC! Que tal um main event em um Fight Night contra Saint Denis?
— Mauricio Ruffy (@Ruffymma) May 4, 2025
Ruffy, who trains with the “Fighting Nerds” team, is unbeaten in the UFC and rising fast. He last competed at UFC 313, where he knocked out Bobby Green with a spinning wheel kick.
Ruffy previously called out Saint-Denis after defeating James Llontop at UFC 309. “Saint-Denis, what are you thinking about? I’m [vs] you. Let’s go,” he said during his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.
That matchup didn’t come together, and Ruffy pivoted to calling out Beneil Dariush during his Octagon interview at UFC 313. Dariush was booked to face Renato Moicano at UFC 311, but that fight never happened — Moicano stepped in for a short-notice title shot instead.