A viral video shows UFC French star putting his neck through brutal, old-school training drills, leaving MMA fans stunned by the strength, control, and intensity behind his routine.
There is no doubt that every sport demands a different kind of fitness and a unique type of training to support performance. In the NFL, athletes train with a strong focus on strength and explosive power. The fighting world, however, requires an entirely different approach, where fighters must train their neck and chin to be as durable as possible. Meanwhile, UFC star Benoit Saint Denis shared his intense training.
In the video, BSD shared a brutal Iron Neck drill where he is seen lifting close to 40 kilos. The movement looks slow and controlled, with constant tension on the neck and upper spine. It highlights how seriously fighters train areas that most fans ignore.
Benoît Saint Denis strengthening his neck 🥶👀
Via: @BenoitSt_Denis pic.twitter.com/18MC0uiJxe
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) December 26, 2025
No single fighter started neck training, as it comes from wrestling and old-school combat sports. Mike Tyson later brought heavy attention to it with his intense neck work, especially neck bridging. That approach influenced many modern fighters, including those who now use tools like the Iron Neck.
This type of work is designed to enhance durability, minimize knockout risk, and withstand heavy impacts during exchanges inside the cage in fight night situations. Meanwhile, after knocking out Beneil Dariush at UFC 322, he is set to return in February.
Benoit Saint-Denis Set to Fight Dan Hooker in Australia at UFC 325
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While Hooker is coming off a brutal loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Qatar, he will now have home crowd support when he fights in February as the co-main event. Meanwhile, after suffering back-to-back defeats last year, BSD has not lost a single fight this year and is currently on a three-fight winning streak.
Apart from him, Alexander Volkanovski is fighting on that card, defending his title against Diego Lopes. It will be a major event with both the main and co-main events stacked. Hooker was close to a title shot, but the loss to Tsarukyan pushed him back. Now, BSD has the opportunity, and each win is bringing him closer to a title fight.