This is your last chance to claim a seat on the Alonzo Menifield bandwagon because if things go well on Saturday, the light heavyweight sophomore will go from being “on the rise” to being “in the mix” at the lower end of the Top 15.
One of several Fortis MMA representatives to graduate to the UFC through the Contender Series, Menifield is a perfect representation of how patience and a little extra seasoning can go a long way in one’s career. Although he earned a first-round stoppage win in his Season 1 appearance, the now 31-year-old fighter was not extended a contract offer, so he went out, earned two more stoppages on the regional circuit and then literally punched his ticket to the big leagues with an eight-second win over Dashawn Boatwright to close out the first episode of Season 2.
Back in January, Menifield made his UFC debut and maintained his winning ways, putting away fellow newcomer Vinicius Moreira in a little under four minutes. This weekend, he looks to extend his unbeaten streak to nine and exact a little revenge for his teammate Kennedy Nzechukwu in a showdown with Scottish submission ace Paul Craig, who defeated his training partner in March.
Craig is the most experienced and accomplished fighter Menifield has faced to date and if he can rack up another stoppage victory, it’s going to be hard to deny him another step up in competition and add him to the growing list of emerging light heavyweights to watch out for in the second half of the year.
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