The Ultimate Fighting Championship is gearing up for a thrilling return to Madison Square Garden this November. Exciting matchups are already in the works, as Matt Frevola announced on the Two to Tango with Steam & Scoob podcast that he has signed a new deal with the UFC. His first fight on the new contract will be against surging Frenchman Benoit St. Denis, and the lightweights will go head-to-head at UFC 295 on Nov. 11. This will be Frevola’s third appearance at Madison Square Garden, where he has previously had a draw against Lando Vannata and a knockout of Ottman Azaitar.
Matt Frevola’s Excitement for the Upcoming Fight
Frevola expressed his excitement about the upcoming fight and his new contract, stating, “I’m finally making [Billy Quarantillo] money. I’m gonna announce it right here, right now. It’s gonna be Matt ‘The Steamrolla’ Frevola at MSG, and I’m fighting the French special forces killer in Benoit St. Denis. And, honestly, I had my questions about the French people, not gonna lie. In his last fight, he beat Thiago Moises, and I was like ‘man, this guy brings it.’ And these are the fights that I live for. These are the fights that excite me. I want another warrior. I want another guy who’s going to go in there and bring it. And…St. Denis brings it.”
Frevola and St. Denis’ Recent Performances
In recent bouts, Frevola has showcased his striking prowess, stringing together three straight first-round knockouts. In 2022, he defeated Genaro Valdez and Ottman Azaitar in a combined time of 5 minutes and 45 seconds. His only appearance in 2021 saw him upset Drew Dober with a knockout. However, Frevola also faced challenges that year, with a decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan and a seven-second knockout by Terrance McKinney.
On the other hand, St. Denis has also been racking up stoppages in his recent victories. The Frenchman competed twice in 2022, choking out Niklas Stolze and defeating Gabriel Miranda with a flurry of fists within three months. In July, he tapped Ismael Bonfim with a powerful face crank, emerging as a contender. September saw St. Denis take down Thiago Moises in the second round. Remarkably, “God of War” has never heard the final bell when recording a win.
UFC 295 is set to take place on Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York, featuring a heavyweight championship headliner between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. The co-headlining event will also have gold on the line, as former titleholder Jiri Prochazka faces ex-middleweight king Alex Pereira for the vacant strap. Other potential main card fights include a strawweight showdown between Jessica Andrade and Mackenzie Dern, as well as a flyweight matchup with Matt Schnell facing Steve Erceg.