Light Heavyweights
Alonzo Menifield (8-0) vs. Paul Craig (11-3)ODDS: Menifield (-320), Craig (+260)
If nothing else, Craig certainly has a role in the company. The Scot has the type of one-dimensional game that could only work at light heavyweight. He is not overwhelmingly strong or particularly athletic, but he is absolutely dogged in pursuing takedowns and the clinch, at which point he can start working through a submission game that is solid for the light heavyweight level. When it fails, Craig tends to get run over in spectacular fashion, but when it works, he still takes a whole lot of damage. However, he has managed to pull off miracle wins against Magomed Ankalaev and Kennedy Nzechukwu in the last minute of their fights. Maybe at some point Craig will string together enough of those wins to mean something in the greater picture, but this time around, he is serving as gatekeeper for yet another rising prospect, in this case a Nzechukwu teammate in Menifield.
It took an extra year, but Menifield used Dana White’s Contender Series as a launchpad into the UFC. On the first season of the show, Menifield earned an underwhelming injury finish over Daniel Jolly, but put in two fights over the next year and returned to knock out Dashawn Boatwright in just eight seconds. Menifield has some talent, but he is on the extremely raw side of the spectrum; his record is almost entirely quick finishes over middling competition. Beating Brazilian submission specialist Vinicius Moreira in January was a solid first step for Menifield, but Craig should easily be his toughest opposition yet.
This fight should be a mess. Craig’s game plan -- to pursue takedowns and clinches at all costs -- is clear, and it’s unclear if Menifield is practiced enough to stop that at this stage of his career. Even against minus athletes like Moreira, Menifield has given up control in grappling exchanges, so it is not difficult to see Craig actually winning rounds through sheer persistence. Menifield may be too strong physically or could just knock out Craig before the fight gets going in earnest, but in a bit of a flier, the pick is for Craig to keep Menifield constantly on his toes and win an ugly decision.
Last Fights » ESPN Prelims