A few days before the first UFC event organized in France (September 3 at the Accor Arena in Bercy), Benoît Saint-Denis accepted an interview with
Le Figaro
in a very busy week between his intense training and his very beautiful wedding in Montpellier.
The one who is nicknamed "God of War" looks back on his career as a former soldier in the special forces of the French army, the development of MMA in France and his future fight against the Brazilian Gabriel Miranda.
LE FIGARO. - How do you feel about participating in UFC PARIS, the first event in the history of the institution organized in France, as a French fighter?
Benoit Saint-Denis. -
The goal of all fighters is to join the UFC, which is considered the equivalent of the Champions League in football.
We all want to get there because when you're UFC champion, you're the best in your weight class in the world.
For the first time, it happens in France so it represents the result of the very hard work of the French pioneers in MMA and of many people to obtain its legalization and fights on French soil.
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You have practiced many different sports: judo, boxing, Brazilian jujitsu, muay-thai and even rugby and football. Does this athletic versatility help you in MMA today?
Being able to adapt to the situation quickly, to oppose an opponent in real time and last minute changes that often happen in MMA organizations.
It's part of the game to know how to adapt so it's important.
Does your rare and atypical career as a former special forces soldier (in Mali in the 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, Editor's note) have a positive impact on your mind and your physique for your career in MMA?
Clearly, I'm looking at this from a sporting perspective as an accomplished warrior.
I'm trained in sparring so being in an organization like the UFC goes beyond sports.
As it is the closest thing to real combat with bare hands, I find in it the sensations of ultimate combat that we practice in the army.
You were supposed to fight the American Christos Giagos in Paris but the latter injured his hand and the UFC therefore programmed you the Brazilian Gabriel Miranda. Do these changes affect your combat readiness?
You have to have great adaptability, it changes the game plan a bit, two or three things, but the whole fight remains the same with all due respect.
Now, there are just a few phases that we will focus on to better prepare for Gabriel Miranda's style.
MMA has a market share in France which is important because young people watch and combat sports have always been present
Benoit Saint-Denis
You lost your first UFC fight against Brazilian Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos on October 30, 2021, before winning against German Niklas Stolze last June. Is this balanced scorecard (1-1) useful to you in your progress?
My defeat against dos Santos called into question certain aspects of my style, to better understand these errors of youth, this lack of patience in the face of an experienced old rogue.
The 8 kilos difference played a huge role.
I knew you had to be 70 kilos from the start.
This fight allowed me to enter the UFC, contrary to what people say, we do not refuse the UFC.
And I had my chances against him, I managed to keep the fight on the ground, I had technical cards to play against him.
After that was his weight class, he put up a good fight.
I had a good first round but I lost a bit of luck and I changed my strategy.
It was a lot of experience.
There are a lot of French fighters, a great generation of which you are a part, France has real potential. How do you judge the evolution of French MMA?
It seems logical to me.
There are sports that come from the United States that never arrive in France, such as American football, but there are many sports that arrive ten or fifteen years late in France.
I think MMA is one of them.
MMA has a market share in France which is important because young people watch and combat sports have always been present, even if it is a little less so than in England or Ireland.
Judo has always had great success, boxing a little less even if there were the good years of muay thai in the 90s. Today it is a phenomenon that allows MMA to settle like the the most watched combat sport in the media.
Last question: a few days before the fight, what state of mind are you in?
I never have any doubts.
I know I have the weapons to KO or submit anyone in the world.
It's up to me to exploit them and seek victory.
Now, there is no fight that is a winner in advance but I have great confidence in my team and in my mental strength to seek victory at home.
I will be there to wage war and make the French public proud and happy.