“Knock him out or submit him!” Benoit Saint-Denis clears doubt around violent intentions for UFC 299 fight against Dustin Poirier

Touching down at Miami, Flordia, Benoit Saint-Denis has a clear resolve on his aim to climb the lightweight ladder. It all hinges on him finishing Dustin Poirier.

“Knock him out or submit him!” Benoit Saint-Denis clears doubt around violent intentions for UFC 299 fight against Dustin Poirier

Benoit Saint-Denis has clear goals in mind for UFC 299 (Source: IMAGO/Instagram)

The UFC is back for its 3rd Pay-per-view event of 2024. Concurrently, so is the ceremonial Fight Week UFC “Embedded” Vlog series. It chronicles the moments up to the fight. UFC 299 (ESPNews, ESPN+) takes place this weekend at Kaseya Center in Miami. The co-headliner sees a 5-round lightweight affair between Benoit Saint-Denis and Dustin Poirier. The Frenchman, Saint-Denis even extended an invite to French President Emmanuel Macron to attend it. Poirier meets UFC rising contender Saint-Denis on March 9.

As such, according to oddsmakers, ‘Diamond’ has opened up as an underdog, despite being #3 in official listings, and #4 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie lightweight rankings. The 155lber recently told TMZ Sports that he’s testing himself out, as every fight could solemnly turn out to be his last. Benoit Saint-Denis, however, has no such inclinations. Arriving at Miami International Airport, here’s what he had to say:

I’m not seeing anything past Poirier, I’m very concentrated on him. I’m here to knock him out or submit him.
Benoit Saint-Denis during UFC 299“Embedded” Vlog series No. 1
YouTube video

Touching down in Florida, the ‘God of War‘ represents Woirin Team Elite. His mettle sees the backing of coaches like pro grappler Christophe Savoca and head coach Daniel Woirin. He takes a couple of snaps with his fans before voicing his surefire resolve. A veteran of the 1st Marine Infantry Paratroopers Regiment, he is drawn to combat. That, and his excellent mastery in striking is where his confidence comes from.

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Even color commentator Joe Rogan once hyped up the military Frenchman on relatable battle acumen that he applies in the cage. He also happens to be both gi and no-gi 2019 France National Champion and an IBJJF Paris International Open Gi titleholder. The vlog also sees Dustin Poirier’s striking coach, Thiago Alvez. He prompts that Poirier is ready for ‘war’.

Dustin Poirier’s striking coach weighs in on his chances

UFC 299 will take shape soon in Miami. In the headliner, bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley makes his maiden defense against Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera in a rematch. Vera happens to be the lone career skid that bugs him to this day.

Dustin Poirier's corner weighs in his chances against veteran Benoit Saint-Denis
Dustin Poirier’s corner weighs in his chances against veteran Benoit Saint-Denis (Source: boxrec.com/Pinterest/Twitter)

In the co-main event, lightweight veteran, Dustin Poirier meets ‘God of War‘ Benoit Saint-Denis. And as such, he has been gearing up for said war. With the card, also making a return is the infamous UFC “Embedded” Vlog series. The 1st episode sees Poirier putting in the work with peers and trainers at the American Top Team (ATT) gym, in Coconut Creek, Florida. Poirier is seen with the head coach Mike Brown and Thiago Alvez.

Here’s what the latter had to say on the training and matchup – 

He's training with high-level guys day in day out...so we're excited man you know...I know he [Saint-Denis] is tough, he's fighting a tough guy...he had a lot of hype behind him...but that's what we like, you know...we like those guys that's going to put us in a good situation after we beat him. He [Dustin] is ready for war.
Thiago Alvez said during UFC 299“Embedded” Vlog series No. 1, at ATT Florida
YouTube video

Poirier is one of the longest-tenured fighters on the roster. While Benoit Saint-Denis isn’t looking further than Poirier, wanting to overcome him, so does Poirier. But in the case of Dustin Poirier, he isn’t looking much further as he’s mild in his approach towards it all. Fighting his 30th career fight, he says every fight could be it for him.

That doesn’t mean he isn’t preparing for it. Coach Mike Brown nudged that the 155lber does not quit and has good mettle to run it well for 25 minutes. Knowing veteran Saint-Denis is the same way, he expects a “fight of the year” kind of affair, that would amaze the fans.

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