Benoit Saint-Denis Nationality: Where does UFC 299 lightweight star hail from?
Former operator of the 1st RPIMa (French special forces) and current UFC lightweight contender Benoit Saint-Denis is ready to take on the division. But where do the allegiances of the 'God of War' lay? Learn more about the fighter and his subsequent origins and beliefs.
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Benoit Saint-Denis is a professional MMA fighter (Source: IMAGO)
Less than half a decade into his pro-MMA career, Benoit Saint-Denis is quite the reckoning force. The up-and-coming prospect in the UFC’s talent pool is famous by all means. One does not earn the moniker ‘God of War‘ lightly. Most fans have wondered about the nationality of Benoit Saint-Denis.
Saint-Denis started his combat sports journey with kickboxing under Stéphane Susperregui. Later, Saint-Denis transitioned to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) with Christophe Savoca in 2017. As such, he is quite the BJJ practitioner and grappler who aspires to dominate over lightweight top guns in his career run. He is up against the likes of Justin Gaethje, lightweight king Islam Makhachev, and Dustin Poirier.
Benoit Saint-Denis last defeated fellow military veteran Matt Frevola at UFC 295. With a highlight-reel knockout, his heartfelt Veteran’s Day tribute, thanking America for saving France in WWII, went viral. It diverted fan interest toward his nationality and origins as such. Find out more details about the nationality of Benoit Saint-Denis.
Benoit Saint-Denis Nationality: What’s his nationality?
Benoît Saint-Denis was born on Dec. 18, 1995, to a French Army officer, who was a Judoka specialist. By all means, he is French at heart and in origin. Notably, he is patriotically so, having served before. Saint-Denis served in the 1st Marine Infantry Paratroopers Regiment ( RPIMa ), assigned to the French Army’s Special Forces Command. He served in wartime Mali and generally in West Africa, fighting terrorist groups.
That isn’t where the buck stops with him and his patriotism. Concurrently, in September of 2017, he received the Order of Merit of the People and the Fighting Cross. Fighting under the PAT SAS group (Special Action Stick Patrol), he served as a motorized patrol operator under the Special Operations Command ( COS ).
Benoît Saint-Denis left the commission as early as 2019. Combat is where he feels at home, and he is willing to utilize his fullest capacity to use that and safeguard his nation ardently. A sentiment the ‘God of War‘ will hold on to as he battles through the UFC’s crowded lightweight title contention scenario. He currently resides in Bayonne, France, with his wife, Laura Saint-Denis, and trains out of Woirin Team MMA.
What religion does Benoit Saint-Denis follow?
Like many other peers, Benoit Saint-Denis is a fighter but also a believer. A practice he humbly puts to good use in the cage and outside it. Since his deployment in Africa, the Frenchman veteran has remained a practicing Catholic.
While appearing on Zack Nani‘s show on Twitch, Saint-Denis mentioned rediscovering his faith in his twenties. He even encouraged today’s youth to be patient as they go through the rigors and tests of faith at various steps in life.
The full-versed Catholic Christian revealed to have started reading the Bible in his late twenties while already under deployment. The discourse has helped him through many action-packed scenarios and in life.
In the aftermath of newly minted Spanish champ Ilia Topruia and South African phenom Dricus Du Plessis, the French fighter has big dreams for 2024. He is willing to bring his nation to the forefront of the combat sports sphere someday as a French champion. He even extended an invitation to French President Emmanuel Macron to attend his UFC 299 lightweight battle.
FAQs
“I was in the French Special Forces for five years.”
Four wins by KO, nine by submission (2 arm triangle, kneebar, armbar, 2 guillotine, 3 RNC)
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