Alonzo Menifield

ANALYSIS
Menifield is impossible to trust as a big favorite (he was -225 here) because he has zero gas tank and no means of generating secondary offense if his power shots aren't landing. Both those things proved true again on this evening, but he still found a way to win the fight -- one that was later deemed Fight of the Night and earned both men a $50,000 bonus. He and Walker fought to identical terms of the feet. They were also both dead tired after the first five minutes. To Alonzo's credit, he dug deep and got the better of the action in Round 3 to in order to convince two of the three judges he deserved to win. Now 37 years of age, Menifield was coming off back-to-back knockout defeats and could have been handed his walking papers had he come up short here. His roster spot should now be secure for the time being.

ANALYSIS
Menifield will get the pleasure of welcoming Walker to the UFC, to which the newcomer brings a perfect 6-0 pro MMA record. Menifield, meanwhile, sits at 8-5-1 in the promotion but is coming off two straight losses, most recently falling to Azmat Murzakanov back in August. He'll need to bounce back against in opponent in walker who is significantly taller (six feet tall to 6-foot-4) and has a longer reach (76 inches to 81 inches).

ANALYSIS
2024 was a rough year for Menifield. He was scheduled to fight Carlos Ulberg in February, but their bout got re-scheduled to UFC St. Louis in May. At St. Louis, Menifield lasted 12 seconds before getting knocked out via punches by Ulberg. Menifield's only other fight that year was against Azamat Murzakanov, who knocked the former out in two rounds. Ideally for Menifield, 2025 will be a bounceback year for him.

ANALYSIS
Menifield lasted all of a dozen seconds in his knockout loss to Carlos Ulberg in May, so in that respect, he looked much improved in this one. Of course, that's where the compliments end. Alonzo struggled with the movement and quickness of Murzakanov. Virtually all of Menifield's offensive thrusts were one-and-done, and he struggled to get his head off the center line the entire bout. Alonzo was finally put away from good about midway through Round 2 after a three-piece combo from Murzaknov sent him tumbling to the mat and forced referee Dan Movahedi to step in. Set to turn 37 years of age this coming October, Alonzo's days in the top-15 of the middleweight division have come and gone.

ANALYSIS
Menifield will look to bounce back relatively immediately after lasting only 12 seconds against Carlos Ulberg at St. Louis less than three weeks ago. Menifield's next opponent has been inching for a fight since breaking his arm at UFC on ESPN 44.