This is one of the most anticipated MMA fights of the year 2024. American UFC legend Dustin Poirier faces Saturday March 9 the new figure of mixed martial arts in France, Benoît Saint Denis. Having gone from rising star to credible candidate for the most difficult title in one year, the native of Nîmes (South) has the opportunity to make history in Florida. Interview with Benoît Saint-Denis.
More than a fight, it is a passing of the baton in the strongest category of the American organization, that of light weight (less than 70 kilos), to definitively place the France on the world map of MMA.
RFI: What state of mind are you in a few hours before this fight against Dustin Poirier?
Benoît Saint Denis: I feel good. We are happy, because we have an opponent who allows us to get closer to our final objectives. We have an exciting fight, against a guy who is tough. We prepared very hard, today there is a little fatigue, there is the weight to manage before the fight. We can’t wait to get to the big day and fight it out. There is the excitement of the fight and of course the pressure to do well and succeed.
You have an exceptional trajectory in French and world MMA: in a year and a half you went from hopeful to great figure in French MMA. How do you experience this?
I live it very well. The stakes are always higher with each fight, it is the victories that allow us to move forward. We take each fight seriously and we take it step by step. I think my spectacular and effective style has something to do with it. This is what allows me today to have the opportunity to face Dustin Poirier.
How would you define your fighting style in the cage?
A complete and very aggressive style. A style that allows you to look for a finish and not wait for the decision.
Did you expect such enthusiasm from the French public in such a short time?
Not at first. But in a very short time, I saw that there was real enthusiasm in France for MMA. This is where I realized the media power of the UFC and global MMA, which is today a growing sport.
My explosion is mostly the combination of positive results in the cage with playful fighting combined with the explosion of MMA. The fact of remaining faithful to my character and to myself means that today there is a connection, a communion with the French public.
The enthusiasm of the French public is important to me, it is a support that I feel on a daily basis through active life and social networks. We are proud to represent so much hope in France. We try to go as far as possible, not to cheat and to seek the best possible results through difficulty.
Dustin Poirier can be called a UFC legend. Will this face fight be the hardest fight of your career?
No, because it’s a fight in my weight category. I want to prove to the world that I am the best in my category. I would have no physical deficit against Poirier. Now clearly in this category of less than 70 kilos, it is the hardest fight of my career, against a very experienced, very strong guy. It is only the cage that reveals the truth on the big day. In any case, we prepared well and it is an honor to cross swords with such a fighter.
At UFC 299, you’re going to be the co-main event of the night. You are at the top of one of the most beautiful cards in history. It must make you happy to be a headliner at such an event?
Of course ! It’s partly the culmination of the first part of my UFC career. Clearly we want to climb all the peaks step by step and it’s clear that UFC 299 is an important step.
How do you judge this first part of your career?
Mostly positive with mistakes and accomplishments. We are happy to continue the adventure alongside a united team, dedicated to me and with this objective of winning each fight. We all make mistakes. Youthful mistakes, immaturity. I have one defeat on the record. This is above all my biggest mistake. For being too messy, but I consider it blank because the context is particular (his Brazilian opponent Elizeu Zaleski tested positive for a doping product – Editor’s note). These are things that make you grow and become a better person.
The next step, in the event of a victory against Dustin Poirier, is the lightweight belt held by the Russian Islam Makhachev?
I don’t like to make predictions. I am focused on Poirier. I prefer to stay focused on one goal at a time. Destroy Poirier on March 9th first and I’ll have plenty of time to redefine objectives after this fight. Like every UFC fighter, my dream is to come number 1 fighter.” pound for pound » (Ranking of the best fighters in all categories – Editor’s note).
We often associate your dazzling start to your career with that of Irish star Conor McGregor, do you understand this comparison?
I think we have two totally different characters. Afterwards, all the better, that means that it works well and that people have a certain enthusiasm for it. Conor was able to arouse the interest of the global public in the discipline and had very good results in his first part of his career. If Conor McGregor comes back and performs well, why not face him one day.
In the short term, you could become the first French fighter to hold an undisputed championship belt in the UFC. Is this an idea that crosses your mind?
I always said “ ladies first » (“ Ladies First “), so I first hope that Manon Fiorot will win the belt in her category and achieve this goal first: it would be deserved. Then yes, it’s in the back of my mind. First of all, becoming champion whether I am the first Frenchman or not, it would be something historic.
The French MMA pool is very interesting at the world level, Ciryl Gane, Manon Fiorot, yourself or Morgan Charrière in the UFC: is that a good thing?
We have increasingly competitive fighters, in several weight categories. The very high level is getting denser so it’s nice to see. It is possible one day to have several French champions in the UFC but we must not put the cart before the horse. We must already move forward step by step, have a Frenchman fighting for the title, give him strength so that he succeeds in achieving it.
There is a debate stirring social networks on the theme of the French face of MMA. Three names are circulating: yours, Ciryl Gane and Cédric Doumbé who proclaimed himself a figure of national MMA. What do you think of this type of questioning?
It’s a somewhat sterile debate, because the face of French MMA is several people. Afterwards, if we talk about pure performance, the one who was at the highest level and who was not far from winning a world belt was Ciryl Gane who still held an interim belt and who was very close to beating Francis Ngannou for the undisputed title. International performance is important. It’s good to be king in France but it’s better to be king of the world and a UFC belt allows you that.
Among the upcoming events in 2024, there is the next UFC Paris. You delighted the public during the first two editions. Would the objective be to be the headliner of the third?
That would be incredible indeed. After main event or not, already being on the card would be great. Being able to represent the tricolor is the main objective and if possible in an exciting fight with high stakes. A title fight in Paris seems complicated to me: the champion in my category does not defend his belt outside. Already being able to participate in a world semi-final or a fight against a big name would not be bad. But first we focus on Dustin Poirier.
What would you say to RFI listeners and readers to watch your fight against Dustin Poirier?
It’s a big fight for French MMA, it’s a fight in the most competitive weight category in the world. Facing the world number 3, which allows you to get closer to a chance for the title. Two fighters with a committed style, looking for a knockout. So a fight that will be spectacular.