Latest news with #Menifield
USA Today
23-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alonzo Menifield: Thumbing my way back to Fortis MMA paid dividends at UFC Seattle
SEATTLE – After a grueling 15-minute fight to open the main card at UFC Fight Night 252, Alonzo Menifield said a recent homecoming gets much of the credit. In a back-and-forth fight that saw both light heavyweights visibly worn out in the second round, Menifield (16-5-1 MMA, 9-5-1 UFC) eked out a win over promotional newcomer Julius Walker (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) by split decision. The scrap got each fighter an additional $50,000 for Fight of the Night at Climate Pledge Arena. That's not a bad way to start his new era at Fortis MMA in Texas, where he returned to work with head coach Sayif Saud after spending time training elsewhere, including Colorado with Pat Barry. In 2024, Menifield was knocked out twice by Carlos Ulberg and Azamat Murzakanov, so the win over Walker was crucial. Menifield was set to fight Oumar Sy next month in London, but he pulled out and Menifield got tasted with the 6-foot-4 Walker on short notice to help a Seattle card that was depleted with cancellations. So stepping up for that with the weight of a two-fight skid might not have worked out the same way absent Fortis. 'Being back in Texas, family all around – gym and my own family – it just felt right to take this on short notice,' Menifield said at his post-fight news conference. 'I'm in the right position. I just kept getting signs. God was telling me, and I'm like, This is what I'm supposed to be doing.' Menifield said working with fellow UFC fighter Ryan Spann at Fortis played a big factor in his win against Walker, who presented unique issues given his height and reach. Menifield said he knew his experience would help win the day against someone with three times less trips to a big cage. But he still needed his crew to help pull him back a bit so he wouldn't get too overhyped. 'Having Ryan and coach (Saud), it was a blessing,' Menifield said. 'They calmed me down. At the weigh-in, I was geeked up. I was going to go out there and throw the sink at him. But they told me, get in that 80 (mph lane). Just cruise. Don't go all the way to 100 – and that help me out. 'Having Ryan, a big body helping me out – when Julius is grabbing me, I'm (thinking), 'Oh, Ryan's a lot heavier.' That helped out a lot. Big, big, big thanks to my boy Ryan – seriously, that helped.' One thing Spann couldn't help, though, was a nasty-looking toe injury Menifield suffered in the fight, which he'll have to hope his extra $50,000 takes the sting off. Check out Menifield's full post-fight interview above. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.
USA Today
23-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Dana White shares gruesome UFC Fight Night 252 photo of Alonzo Menifield's foot
Alonzo Menifield toughed out a victory Saturday at UFC Fight Night 252, but paid the price. Following Saturday's event in Seattle, promotion CEO Dana White revealed a picture of Menifield's left foot, that suffered a severe laceration between the pinky and ring toes. The bloody picture is not for the faint of heart. Dana white shares gruesome Alonzo Menifield cut in between the toes 😬💀#UFCSeattle @alonzomenifield — FightCrack (@FightCrack) February 23, 2025 Menifield, 37, defeated Julius Walker by split decision in a bout that was later named Fight of the Night and earned him an additional $50,000. The win snapped a two-fight skid for Menifield, who returned to Fortis MMA in preparation of the bout. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.
USA Today
22-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker prediction, pick, start time for UFC Fight Night 252
Alonzo Menifield and Julius Walker meet Saturday on the UFC Fight Night 252 main card at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last event: 2-2-1 UFC main cards, 2025: 10-10-1 Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker UFC Seattle preview Menifield (15-5-1 MMA, 8-5-1 UFC) is looking to avoid the dreaded three-fight losing streak that signals trouble for most veterans' careers. Menifield has been finished by Carlos Ulberg (in 12 seconds) and Azamat Murzakanov in his past two fights. … Walker (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is making his UFC debut after turning pro in April 2023. All six of his victorioes have been stoppages. Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker UFC Seattle expert pick, prediction Despite having guaranteed bangers like Andre Fili vs. Melquizael Costa being stuck on the prelims, the UFC matchmakers decided to double down on their fetish of force-feeding us lower-level big men on main cards by cobbling together a booking between Menifield and Walker as the opener. In Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby's defense, Menifield and Walker both appear to be genuine athletes and good guys, so I hope that my hyperbolic words don't land too harshly as I point out the matchmakers' tendencies. And for all our sakes, let's hope that Maynard and Shelby are right by putting these two in this low-key important slot. Walker, for a fighter as tall as he is, almost looks shorter given how smoothly he moves (particularly in grappling transitions). Whether he's hitting wrist-feed rides like a giant Islam Makhachev or his flowing into triangle chokes from mount, Walker looks to have the skills to surprise a lot of heavyweights who aren't on their game. That said, Walker has shown a bit of porous striking defense in the past, so seeing his night end early courtesy of a Menifield hook wouldn't be the craziest thing in the world. Although part of me wants to take a flier on the underdog in Walker to win by submission, something tells me this is the classic 'too much, too soon' prospect loss. Moreover, Menifield is reportedly back with Fortis MMA, which I believe is a good trend given my respect for their head coach, Sayif Saud. But considering that Menifield is coming off of two stoppage losses, I suspect that we get a much more conservative version of him this time around. I hope I'm wrong, but I see a fight full of sloppy cage pushing and grappling that goes the distance. The pick is Menifield by decision. Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker UFC Seattle odds The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the more experienced fighter, listing Menifield (-230) and Walker (+184) via FanDuel. Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker UFC Seattle start time, how to watch As the main card opener, Menifield and Walker are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 9:10 p.m. ET. The fight will stream on ESPN+. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.
USA Today
20-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Julius Walker surprised he's not that big of an underdog vs. Alonzo Menifield at UFC Fight Night 252
SEATTLE – Julius Walker thought the odds for his UFC debut would be a lot more lopsided. Walker (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) draws ranked light heavyweight Alonzo Menifield (15-5-1 MMA, 8-5-1 UFC) right off the bat in Saturday's UFC Fight Night 252 (ESPN+) main card opener at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. According to DraftKings, Walker is a +200 underdog against Menifield, who's a -245 favorite. Considering the level of competition Menifield has fought, Walker is pleasantly surprised. 'Honestly, to be completely real with you, the fact that I've been a pro for less than two years, and I've got six fights, and I'm fighting the No. 15-ranked guy in the world, and I think I'm like +170 or something,' Walker told reporters at Wednesday's media day. 'I thought they were going to have me at +300 or +400, something wide like that. But I guess in the light heavyweight division, it's probably pretty tough to put anybody any more than like -200.' Walker, who has finished all six of his professional fights, is entering his first UFC fight full of excitement. 'I'm definitely not too proud to admit the fact that I'm seeing a lot of these guys, and I'm almost fanboying out a little bit,' Walker said. 'I'm seeing some of these names that I've been watching since I was in high school, and it's definitely a really cool experience. But at the end of the day, if I don't get the victory here – that's the big goal here. I need to get this started off on the right foot.' For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.
USA Today
20-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alonzo Menifield explains return 'home' to Fortis MMA before UFC Fight Night 252
SEATTLE – Alonzo Menifield is back in familiar surroundings as he tries to snap a two-bout losing skid Saturday at UFC Fight Night 252. After starting his UFC run fighting out of Fortis MMA in Dallas under coach Sayif Saud, Menifield expanded his horizons in recent years to multiple gyms. The most prominent of his stay saw him go to Colorado with kickboxing and MMA veteran Pat Barry in his corner, but recently, the decision was made to return to his roots. Menifield (15-5-1 MMA, 8-5-1 UFC) has never lost three consecutive fights in his career. He doesn't want that to happen when he meets newcomer Julius Walker in a light heavyweight bout at Climate Pledge Arena (ESPN+), and in order to give himself the best chance, Menifield did his training camp at Fortis MMA. 'I traveled around, went to everywhere and then I was in a training facility, I'm not going to name the name, but I was in this big old gym and I was realizing, 'They do this at Fortis. They're grinding hard like this,'' Menifield told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday's UFC Fight Night 252 media day. 'So I'm like, 'Why don't I just go home and be with my family and train?' So I'm back at Fortis. Appreciate Fortis.' According to Menifield, there was no negativity around his original departure from Fortis MMA. When this situation arose, he said Saud had no issues welcoming him back with open arms. 'Me and Sayif, we've always been good,' Menifield said. 'I never left on bad terms. I just told him I need to expand and that's what I did just traveling around realizing what I can add to me. I wasn't anything sour, so I was able to go back home. No problem.' Menifield, 37, is seemingly in prime position for a strong rebound. He get a short-notice promotional debuting fighter in Walker (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) who has never experienced the stage of the UFC lights. Menifield has been in those shoes and knows what it's like, but said it's his job to give Walker a rude introduction. 'I think this is an exciting fight as far as this opportunity for both of us,' Menifield said. 'For him, especially, right? He's a young guy trying to make a statement and I look forward to just shutting that all down.' For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.
