Benoit Saint Denis delivered a commanding performance against his short-notice opponent, Kyle Prepolec, opening the main card at UFC 315 with a decisive victory.
Originally scheduled to face Joel Alvarez, Saint Denis instead welcomed Prepolec back to the Octagon for what turned out to be a challenging return for the veteran. While Prepolec demonstrated considerable grit, Saint Denis ultimately proved overwhelming, concluding the bout with a brutal arm triangle choke.
The tap out from Prepolec occurred at 2:35 of the second round. This win marks a significant return to the win column for Saint Denis after suffering two consecutive defeats.
“Thank you everyone in Montreal,” Saint Denis expressed in his post-fight interview. “It`s an honor and a privilege to compete here. [Matuesz] Gamrot, [Dan] Hooker, [Justin] Gaethje, I`m ready. Gamrot, if you need an opponent, I respect you, but I bring violence.”
Saint Denis wasted no time, securing an aggressive takedown less than 20 seconds into the fight. Prepolec initially attempted a kimura from the bottom, aiming to neutralize the powerful French lightweight`s offense. However, Saint Denis effectively advanced his position and began raining down heavy punches and elbows, keeping Prepolec on the defensive.
A subsequent scramble saw Saint Denis gain back control, locking in a body triangle. Despite this dominant position, Prepolec showed resilience and survived the initial onslaught. Saint Denis maintained pressure, even attempting a standing rear-naked choke late in the opening frame, but Prepolec managed to defend sufficiently to see the second round.
The second round began with Prepolec landing a couple of solid punches, momentarily catching Saint Denis`s attention and generating excitement among the Montreal crowd. Saint Denis responded by immediately pressing Prepolec against the cage and unloading a relentless barrage of strikes.
This intense pressure led to another takedown. This time, Saint Denis transitioned swiftly and decisively, securing a tight arm triangle choke. Prepolec`s defense was broken, leaving him no alternative but to tap out, awarding Saint Denis the impressive submission victory.
Although the opponent changed, Saint Denis fully capitalized on his opportunity at UFC 315. With this dominant performance, he is now firmly focused on challenging potential opponents within the lightweight rankings for his next fight.
Wesley Dunham 
Marcus Blakely