Benoit Saint-Denis ready for war with Dan Hooker at UFC 325

Benoit Saint-Denis arrives in Sydney this weekend to take on Dan Hooker at UFC 325, a bout with significant implications for the lightweight division. The lightweight co-main event takes place at the Qudos Bank Arena on January 31, 2026, with the French fighter coming into action on back-to-back stoppages in 2025. Saint-Denis’ recent 16-second knockout of Beneil Dariush in November has positioned him as a serious contender.

Benoit Saint-Denis ready for war at UFC 325

“We were quite surprised by the timing of the fight, but knowing it was next to his country made it clearer why they wanted him to fight here. I was already in vacation mode in my mind and had to turn it back on because BSD – Dan Hooker, you don’t need a promotion. It’s going to be a scrap,” Saint-Denis explained during the pre-fight. press conference. The French fighter has recorded all sixteen victories, including eleven wins and four by knockout. His attacks have become increasingly sharp, while his arsenal of submissions remains a constant threat.

“I expect the winner of this fight to end up in the top five and I also expect him to want to move forward. Of course I am interested in the two most violent titles in the UFC, which in my eyes are the lightweight undisputed title and the BMF,” he said. “I will talk about the Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje fight when I deserve it, after my war with Dan Hooker.”

Those ambitions depend on beating Hooker, a 35-year-old veteran who is ranked sixth in the division. The New Zealand fighter has a record of 24-13 and has experience from fighting against elite competition, although he enters on the back of a submission loss to Arman Tsarukyan in November.

The central story of this battle revolves around finishing percentages and power. Hooker questioned Saint-Denis’ knockout credentials, citing his small sample size of finishes by stoppage. Saint-Denis responded immediately to that criticism. “He said I’m not a finisher, not a knockout artist, because I’ve only knocked out Beneil Dariush. He’s going to find out Saturday and Sunday. I don’t know how many knockout cards he has in the UFC. I have four, and I have a 100 percent finish rate and it’s a mix between submissions and knockouts. He knows it’s going to be something, and I think I’ll be fighting the best version of him. I hope so. May it be better.” battle victory,” said Saint-Denis.

At 6-foot-1 and 155 pounds, Saint-Denis has the advantage over Hooker at lightweight and has shown the ability to impose his will in recent fights. His recent performances against Ruffy and Prepolec showcased his wrestling improvements, while the lightning finish against Dariush revealed his striking potential. Hooker’s recent struggles with pressure fighters like Tsarukyan could provide opportunities for Saint-Denis to control the pace.

Saint-Denis acknowledged the jet lag that came with it travel to Australia but stated that his preparation was thorough. “Coming early is just to catch the jet lag. There is a lot of jet lag here, but we are getting used to it. My first time in Australia was in Perth in 2016, and now it is my second time. Great country,” he noted. The fight will take place at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney’s Olympic Park, marking the UFC’s eighth visit to the city.