Benoit Saint-Denis Ready for War with Dan Hooker at UFC 325
Benoit Saint-Denis arrives in Sydney this weekend to face Dan Hooker at UFC 325, a matchup with significant implications for the lightweight division. The lightweight co-main event takes place at Qudos Bank Arena on January 31, 2026, where the French fighter enters on the strength of back-to-back stoppages in 2025. Saint-Denis’ recent 16-second knockout of Beneil Dariush in November has positioned him as a serious contender.
Benoit Saint-Denis Ready for War at UFC 325
“We were pretty surprised by the timing of the fight, but knowing it’s next to his country made it more clear why they wanted him to fight here. I was already in holiday mode in my mind and I had to switch it back on, because BSD–Dan Hooker, you need no promotion. It’s going to be a scrap,” Saint-Denis explained at the pre-fight press conference. The French fighter has finished all 16 victories on his record, with submissions making up 11 of those wins and four coming by knockout. His striking has become increasingly sharp, while his submission arsenal remains a consistent threat.
“I do expect that the winner of this fight is going to be top five and I do expect he’s going to be looking to move forward. Of course I’m interested in the two most violent belts in the UFC, which in my mind are the lightweight undisputed title and the BMF,” he said. “I will talk about the Paddy Pimblett–Justin Gaethje fight if I deserve to, after my war with Dan Hooker.”
Those aspirations hinge on defeating Hooker, a 35-year-old veteran ranked sixth in the division. The New Zealand fighter holds a 24-13 record and carries experience from fights against elite competition, though he enters following a submission loss to Arman Tsarukyan in November.
The central narrative of this fight centers on finishing rates and power. Hooker questioned Saint-Denis’ knockout credentials, citing his small sample size of finishes by strike. Saint-Denis responded directly to that criticism. “He said I’m not a finisher, not a knockout artist because I only knocked out Beneil Dariush. He’s going to find out on Saturday–Sunday. I don’t know how many knockout cards he has in the UFC. I have four, and I have a 100 percent finish rate and it’s a mix between submissions and knockouts. He knows it’s going to be something, and I think I will fight the best version of him. I hope so. May the better fighter win,” Saint-Denis stated.
At 5’11” and fighting at 155 pounds, Saint-Denis possesses the size advantage over Hooker at lightweight and has demonstrated the ability to impose his will in recent fights. His recent performance against Ruffy and Prepolec showcased his grappling improvements, while the lightning-quick finish against Dariush revealed his striking potential. Hooker’s recent struggles with pressure fighters like Tsarukyan may present opportunities for Saint-Denis to control the pace.
Saint-Denis acknowledged the jet lag associated with traveling to Australia but stated his preparation was thorough. “Coming early is just to absorb the jet lag. There is huge jet lag here, but we are getting used to it. My first time in Australia was in Perth in 2016, and now it’s my second time. Great country,” he noted. The fight takes place at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney’s Olympic Park, marking the UFC’s eighth visit to the city.
The winner of this matchup stands positioned to break into the legitimate title picture at 155 pounds. For Saint-Denis, victory would mark a third consecutive stoppage victory and set the stage for a matchup against higher-ranked contenders. For Hooker, a win would signal recovery from his recent loss and reignite his championship aspirations.
