Violence is virtually guaranteed in the UFC 325 co-main event as Dan Hooker collides with surging finisher Benoit Saint-Denis in a lightweight showdown from Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena tonight.
We’ll break down how Hooker’s length, experience, and technical kickboxing stack up against Saint-Denis’ suffocating pace and submission threat in this co-main event.
Is the Frenchman ready to bulldoze another ranked name, or can the battle-hardened Kiwi turn back the charge and defy the odds at UFC 325?
Below, find our Hooker vs. Saint-Denis prediction and UFC 325 expert pick for Saturday's co-main event below, including PrizePicks UFC picks and key stats for this UFC lightweight matchup.
You can predict UFC winners on PrizePicks Team Picks and earn money if you're right, including on Hooker vs. Saint-Denis, now available in 30 states.
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Dan Hooker vs. Benoit Saint-Denis Prediction, UFC 325 Preview
Dan Hooker steps into UFC 325 as a battle-tested lightweight veteran, armed with a six-foot frame, 75-inch reach, and elite-level experience forged in five-round wars. The New Zealand striker has shared the Octagon with Dustin Poirier, Islam Makhachev, and a murderers' row of ranked contenders, proving his durability and technical kickboxing against the division's best.
Hooker's sharp, straight punches, body work, and distance management give him the blueprint to exploit Saint-Denis' aggressive entries. Look for "The Hangman" to lean on his length, teep kicks, and patient counters to stay at range and pick apart the Frenchman's pressure.
Benoit Saint-Denis enters as one of lightweight's most dangerous finishers, riding three-straight wins all by stoppage, including a 16-second demolition of Beneil Dariush. The French powerhouse blends relentless forward pressure with suffocating grappling, overwhelming opponents with pace, clinch strength, and submission threats that have produced violent results.
However, Saint-Denis faces one of his most experienced and technically sound strikers to date in hostile Australian territory. If he can close the distance, drag Hooker into deep waters, and impose his grinding style, he could cement his status as a legitimate title threat with another showcase finish.
UFC 325: Dan Hooker vs. Benoit Saint-Denis Payouts
Dan Hooker enters this lightweight co-main event as the underdog, returning a 3.7x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if he wins.
Benoit Saint-Denis comes into this matchup as the favorite with a 1.25x payout if he wins, via PrizePicks Team Picks
Game Winner Payout: Dan Hooker 3.7x ($100 pays out $370) | Benoit Saint-Denis 1.25x
To Go The Distance: Yes 2.85x ($100 pays out $285)| No 1.36x
Most Likely Method of Victory: Benoit Saint-Denis by Submission (Lowest payout: 2.43x)
Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.
Dan Hooker vs. Benoit Saint-Denis Prediction for UFC 325 co-main event
Here are some UFC stats to help you make your Dan Hooker vs. Benoit Saint-Denis predictionin the lightweight co-main event at UFC 325 on Paramount+.
- Hooker's 75-inch reach advantage and 4.89 significant strikes landed per minute give him the tools to control distance and land strikes from the outside.
- "The Hangman" has fought against elite grapplers like Islam Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan, and outpointed Mateusz Gamrot, proving he has fought some of the best grapplers the lightweight division has to offer.
- Saint-Denis' relentless pace of 5.07 significant strikes landed per minute and an aggressive 4.33 takedowns per 15 minutes allows him to dictate where fights take place.
- The French finisher has a 100% finish rate in his eight UFC victories, making him one of the most dangerous fighters at 155 pounds.
- Saint-Denis is five years younger than the 35-year-old Hooker, whose recent wars and accumulated damage could factor into a high-paced, physical battle over 15 minutes.
Hooker vs. Saint-Denis Start Time, How to Watch UFC 325
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
Time: Main Card – 9 p.m. ET | Gaethje vs. Pimblett Start Time – 11:00 p.m. ET (estimate)
Location: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
TV: Paramount+ (streaming)
UFC 325: Hooker vs. Saint-Denis Tale of the Tape
Here are the key stats to know for Hooker vs. Saint-Denis in the UFC 325 co-main event.
Dan Hooker Stats for UFC 325
Overall Record: 24-13
UFC Record: 14-9
Last 5 Fights: 3-2
Height: 6’0"
Reach: 75”
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 4.89
Takedowns Landed Per 15 Minutes: 0.71
Last Fight: Loss vs. Arman Tsarukyan by Submission
Finishes: 18 (11 KO/TKO/7 SUB)
Benoit Saint-Denis Stats for UFC 325
Overall Record: 16-3
UFC Record: 8-3
Last 5 Fights: 3-2
Height: 5’11"
Reach: 73”
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 5.07
Takedowns Landed Per 15 Minutes: 4.33
Last Fight: Win vs. Beneil Dariush by KO/TKO in Round 1
Finishes: 16 (5 KO/TKO/11 SUB)
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Hooker vs. Saint-Denis Pick for UFC 325
Here is our expert UFC 325 prediction and pick for the Hooker vs. Saint-Denis lightweight fight. All picks are available via PrizePicks MMA board.
Hooker vs. Saint-Denis Pick: 9.5 Minutes (Fight Time)
- Dan Hooker has gone the distance in 2 of his last 3 fights inside the Octagon, including a grueling 15-minute split decision win over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305 in August 2024.
- Despite Benoit Saint-Denis' average fight time of 6 minutes and 55 seconds across his UFC career — four out of his last five fights have gone longer than his career average.
- BSD's willingness to engage in drawn-out wars was on full display against Thiago Moises and Renato, both of whom lasted over 9 minutes.
- Hooker's durability is legendary — he absorbed brutal damage, including clean head kicks against Jalin Turner, yet pushed through to a split decision victory, and survived five full rounds with Dustin Poirier in their 2020 war that went the full 25 minutes.
Make Your UFC 325: Hooker vs. Saint-Denis Picks on PrizePicks
The co-main event lightweight fight pits the fan-favorite Dan Hooker vs. Benoit Saint-Denis, a dangerous and surging, in a fight that should bring fireworks on Saturday night.
The UFC 325 co-main event Hooker vs. Saint-Denis will be broadcast on Paramount+, live from Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia, this Saturday, January 31.
You can win real money by locking in your UFC 325 predictions on PrizePicks — from the first fight of the night all the way to the featherweight title fight. Simply pick your fighters, and win cash if you're right.
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