Benoit Saint Denis is still scheduled to compete at UFC 315 this Saturday. His initial opponent, Joel Alvarez, was forced off the card due to a hand injury.
UFC officials confirmed on Monday that Saint Denis is now slated to face returning lightweight Kyle Prepolec. Prepolec previously competed in the promotion in 2019, holding an 0-2 record during that stint.
Prepolec, whose overall professional record stands at 18-8, makes his return to the UFC having compiled a 4-1 record since his initial departure. He is currently enjoying a three-fight winning streak, with all three of those victories ending via knockout.
Prepolec aims to maintain his winning momentum against Saint Denis, who is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the lightweight division. Saint Denis himself is looking to bounce back from two consecutive losses.
Prior to these recent defeats, Saint Denis had built impressive momentum with five straight wins, finishing all five opponents by either knockout or submission. This successful run earned him a fight against former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier. While the bout was highly competitive, Saint Denis ultimately lost by second-round submission.
Despite the loss to Poirier, his performance was recognized with Fight of the Night honors.
Saint Denis`s subsequent loss occurred against Renato Moicano during the UFC`s event in France last September. His upcoming bout against Prepolec on Saturday will mark his first appearance of 2025.
The UFC 315 card is headlined by welterweight champion Belal Muhammad defending his title against rising contender Jack Della Maddalena. The co-main event features flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko putting her belt on the line against French striker Manon Fiorot.
The final order of bouts for UFC 315 has not yet been announced. Saint Denis was originally scheduled to open the pay-per-view main card, but it remains uncertain if he will retain that position now that Prepolec has stepped in as a replacement.
Marcus Blakely