Headlined by a rematch between UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes, UFC 325 will also see Saint-Denis attempt to vault into the mix for a lightweight title shot when he takes on Dan Hooker in the night\u2019s co-main event. <\/p>\n
Benoit Saint-Denis Shares Bizarre Training Footage With Fans<\/p>\n
The matchup with Hooker has rightfully been celebrated by the combat sports community as a clear pre-event frontrunner for \u201cFight of the Night\u201d honors at UFC 325, and Saint-Denis recently showed MMA fans how he’s trying to strengthen his neck before squaring off with \u201cThe Hangman\u201d. <\/p>\n
READ MORE: Ex-UFC champion raises questions about outcome of Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua<\/a><\/p>\n L\u2019entra\u00eenement de Beno\u00eet Saint Denis \ud83e\udd2f<\/p>\n (via Instagram)pic.twitter.com\/wdlFP6Xb5q<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 La Sueur (@LaSueur_off) December 24, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Currently sitting two spots ahead of Saint-Denis as the UFC\u2019s #6-ranked lightweight contender, Hooker entered 2025 on a three-fight win streak but was submitted by Arman Tsarukyan<\/a> in the second round of their UFC Qatar main event bout last month. <\/p>\n “God of War” On The Cusp Of UFC Title Contention<\/p>\n Hooker will be eager to return to the win column at UFC 325 when he meets Saint-Denis, but \u201cGod of War\u201d looks to be in the best form of his UFC career after finishing all three opponents that he faced in 2025. <\/p>\n Jalin Turner (red gloves) fights Dan Hooker (blue gloves) during UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena. | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Saint-Denis joined the UFC with a perfect 8-0 record in 2021 but moved up a weight class to make his debut against Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos<\/a>, losing a unanimous decision at UFC 267. <\/p>\n READ MORE: Ex-UFC champion torches promotion for booking Paddy Pimblett title fight at UFC 324<\/a><\/p>\n The Frenchman rebounded impressively with five-straight stoppage-wins to break into the UFC lightweight rankings, but he was knocked out by Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 before losing to Renato Moicano via doctor\u2019s stoppage at UFC Paris last year. <\/p>\n Benoit Saint-Denis (red gloves) reacts after the fight against Mauricio Ruffy (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. | Per Haljestam-Imagn Images<\/p>\n \u201cGod of War\u201d scored back-to-back submissions over Kyle Prepolec and Maurico Ruffy before a sensational 16-second knockout of longtime UFC veteran Beneil Dariush<\/a> in his last outing at UFC 322, and a win over Dan Hooker in January could put Saint-Denis squarely in the mix for what would be his first crack at UFC gold. <\/p>\n More MMA Knockout News<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Ex-UFC champ aims to snap losing streak on Holloway vs. Oliveira undercard at UFC 326<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0UFC legend Anderson Silva shares puzzling response regarding Dana White relationship<\/a> <\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0UFC shockingly parts ways with fighter boasting undefeated UFC record<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0MMA fans put on notice after fighter scores insane walk-off KO in first pro fight<\/a><\/p>\n Stick with\u00a0MMAKnockout<\/a>\u00a0for more FREE coverage of the UFC and MMA.<\/p>\n Follow MMAKnockout on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>, and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Jalin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/01kd8m3jzmc1e9hzcch4.jpg\" "\\"Jalin")
<\/p>\n![\"Benoit](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/01kd8m4qgava9bavj792.jpg\" "\\"Benoit")
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