UFC fighter Benoit Saint-Denis has a glorious past that he likes to show off on his body in the form of tattoos. The French fighter has four tattoos on his body each telling a vivid story. Let’s take a look at the stories behind the UFC lightweight fighters’ tattoos.
Saint-Denis was born on December 18, 1995, in Nîmes, France. His father was a French Army Officer who was involved in judo. Saint-Denis took to his father and joined the Army while also taking up combat sports. A black belt in judo, Saint-Denis joined a unit of the French Army Special Forces Command. Two of his tattoos are related to his military endeavors.
Benoit Saint-Denis has a tattoo of a Templar cross and a knife signifying his military history
Very evidently, Saint-Denis has a huge tattoo of a Templar cross on the left side of his chest. The inscription around the cross reads “SIGILLUM MILITUM XPISTI” meaning “Seal of the Soldiers of Christ.”
In an interview with CNEWS in January 2024 and also in an interview with TNT Sports earlier, he explained that the tattoo relates to his service in Mali during the Mali War.
In the interview with CNEWS, he stated “I am a Christian and when the order of the Templars was created, their initial function was to secure the pilgrimage of those going to the Holy Land from Europe to Jerusalem.
And given that the group I belonged to provided security for François Hollande [French president] when he came to Mali and that special forces are generally used for the security of high-ranking French personalities, I really liked it so I had it do.”
In his interview with TNT Sports, he explained that he fought against “local terrorism.”
Another tattoo signifying his military experience is a dagger on his left tricep. He explained that it was “the symbol of his regiment of the Special Air Service.” It is a reminder of the five years of his service in the military for the Special Air Service.
Saint-Denis has a Joan of Arc tattoo that represents his faith in France
Saint-Denis has a tattoo of Joan of Arc, a patron saint of France, on his back. According to the French fighter, the tattoo represents his faith in France and his faith in the kingdom. His belief in Joan of Arc helps him have faith in general and in God.
Lastly, he has a tattoo of a samurai helmet on his right bicep. Saint-Denis claimed that it was the symbol of his coach’s gym. “That’s the beginning of martial arts for me. [Me and] My grand coach, we have the same tattoo. That’s the logo of his academy.”
Christophe Savoka is the BJJ coach who brought him close to martial arts in 2017. He began his pro-MMA journey in February 2019 and made his UFC debut as an unbeaten fighter in October 2021. However, after racking up eight wins, BSD lost on his UFC debut.