MIAMI – Things might’ve looked a bit shaky for Benoit Saint Denis’s chances of getting a marquee matchup, but he was never worried.
The rising UFC lightweight contender returns to the octagon this Saturday to face veteran Dustin Poirier in the co-main event of UFC 299 (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+).
About a month before the event, Poirier (29-8 MMA, 21-7 UFC) posted on X that the fight against Saint-Denis (13-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) was off and told MMA Junkie he had never officially signed a contract despite UFC CEO Dana White announcing the matchup a few weeks prior. Poirier later said the fight was on and that the post was a “misunderstanding.”
Saint-Denis was never worried about the status of the fight, despite it’s brief uncertainty.
“Negotiations in the top 15 (are) always difficult,” Saint-Denis told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC 299 media day on Wednesday. “It goes through a lot of processes. I have a great manager, who’s doing a good job, and it worked out with the UFC. I got this fight, and now I get to do my job, which is fighting.”
He then added, “At the beginning of that I had suspicions he was injured, but it was not the case. There were no doubts in my mind, except negotiation from his part with the UFC. There was nothing there to be afraid of. It solved itself very fast.”
Saint-Denis is currently on a five-fight wining streak with all victories coming by stoppage. He viciously knocked out Matt Frevola in November in his most recent bout.
Saint-Denis expects to keep the violent train going this weekend.
“It’s one more step, a very tough one, and I’m happy I’m getting this one,” Saint-Denis said. “I’m expecting a tough fight. I’m well prepared. And I’m expecting a tough and enjoyable moment in the octagon.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.