Can Alonzo Menifield save his chin?

Twelve seconds. That’s all it took for Carlos Ulberg to put Alonzo Menifield to sleep last May. Then, it happened again against Murzakanov. At 37, the Dallas powerhouse doesn't have time to overthink things: against the terrifying Zhang Mingyang, he either needs to bring the heat or he’ll officially slide into the role of a high-end stepping stone for hungry prospects.

🥊 Quick Stats

Name: Alonzo Menifield
Record: 15-5-1
Signature trait: An NFL linebacker physique capable of bending a horseshoe in half, but a chin that has become highly suspect.

The High-Five Block

Last 5 results:

• ❌ Azamat Murzakanov - KO (punches) - Round 2 (3:18)
• ❌ Carlos Ulberg - KO (punches) - Round 1 (0:12)
• ✅ Dustin Jacoby - Unanimous decision - Round 3
• ✅ Jimmy Crute - Submission (guillotine) - Round 2 (1:55)
• 🤝 Jimmy Crute - Majority draw - Round 3

The origin story

Alonzo wasn't born on the mats; he was born in the trenches. Bounced around foster homes in Los Angeles, the kid survived thanks to freakish genetics. His first religion? American football. An elite NCAA linebacker, he pushed his career all the way to the pros in the Arena League and the CFL. When you’ve spent your youth stopping 240-pound monsters running at full speed, the striking of a normal human feels like a light breeze. He arrived in MMA late, at 28, with no transition. No time to learn textbook double-legs: he was there to rip heads off with the raw power of a bulldozer.

Dallas lightning vs. the cardio wall

His ticket to the UFC? Punched in 8 seconds flat at the Contender Series by obliterating Dashawn Boatwright. The message was clear: Menifield doesn't work overtime. Under the guidance of Sayif Saud at Fortis MMA, the physical specimen learned to channel his violence. He strung together highlight-reel KOs and even claimed the scalp of tough fighters like Jimmy Crute with a mammoth guillotine capable of choking out a polar bear. But in the UFC, raw power has a limit: the gas tank. When the lightning doesn't strike in the first round, the Menifield machine starts burning fuel like a Hummer going uphill. Against the division's elite, every second after the first round becomes a painful struggle for air.

Useless trivia

• His 8-second KO at the Contender Series remains one of the fastest in the history of Dana White's selection shows.
• He started pro MMA at 28, an age when most fighters are already celebrating their twentieth fight.
• His coach, Sayif Saud, is known for running Team Fortis MMA like a Marine drill sergeant: military discipline is mandatory.

The MMX take

So, are we backing Alonzo for our fight picks? It’s the perfect trap. On one hand, the American shows surgical precision (57% striking accuracy) and rock-solid takedown defense (75%). On the other, he’s coming off two brutal KOs and is facing Zhang Mingyang, a Chinese powerhouse who doesn't know how to take a step back and hunts for the finish from the first second. If Alonzo gets into a brawl in the middle of the cage, his worn-out chin is going to shatter. The key to the fight? Pragmatism. Alonzo needs to use his linebacker strength to pin the Chinese fighter against the cage, wear him down in the clinch, and drag him into the second round where lactic acid does the heavy lifting. If he survives the initial onslaught, Alonzo’s experience will make the difference on the ground. A risky bet, but that’s exactly the kind of high-stakes play that shakes up the league.

Alonzo Menifield is fighting for his survival in the light heavyweight Top 15 against a true knockout artist. Do you think he’ll win his next fight? Come make your picks and challenge your friends on MMX.

📋 On the same card: Check out all the profiles for UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Figueiredo