Light heavyweight knockout artists collide Saturday night, as Alonzo Menifield takes on undefeated Iwo Baraniewski at UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2 in Los Angeles, California.
Menifield (18–6–1, 11–6–1 UFC) has won three of his last four fights, punctuated by a first-round knockout of Zhang Mingyang in May. Baraniewski (9–0, 3–0 UFC) has continued to thrive inside the Octagon, preserving his 100 percent first-round finish rate by putting away Junior Tafa inside two minutes in June.
Baraniewski enters as a heavy -245 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Menifield is a +200 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 1.5 rounds.
Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski Fight Preview
Alonzo Menifield
- 18–6–1 (11–6–1 UFC)
- 11–4 (T)KO
- 3–0 SUB
LA’s own Alonzo Menifield will have home-court advantage as he attempts to derail one of the strongest hype trains at 205 pounds. And he arrives with momentum of his own. “Atomic” Alonzo lived up to his billing with a first-round stoppage win against Zhang Mingyang earlier this year, dropping his opponent twice and earning Fight of the Night honors.
However, Menifield has accrued some serious mileage over his career. He enters Saturday night at 38, with an eroding chin. Four of his pro losses have come by knockout or TKO — including three stoppage losses in his last six bouts. While he holds a clear edge in Octagon experience and strength of schedule, Father Time certainly won’t be on his side against his undefeated opponent at UFC 331.
Iwo Baraniewski
- 9–0 (3–0 UFC)
- 7–0 (T)KO
- 2–0 SUB
Iwo Baraniewski has looked right at home inside the Octagon. In four trips to the cage across Dana White’s Contender Series and the UFC, the powerful Polish prospect has recorded four finishes in fewer than four minutes of total fight time. “Rudy,” 27, has never gone to a second round, and he heads into Saturday night with seven straight wins by knockout or TKO.
Although Baraniewski can press forward with reckless abandon, he’s proven that it’s difficult to stop a 205-pound wrecking ball. At UFC 331, he’ll be looking to showcase his thunderous power once again in the toughest test of his young career.
Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski Pick, Best Bet
Although Alonzo Menifield remains dangerous in the twilight of his career, his dwindling durability makes him a sitting duck against surging prospect Iwo Baraniewski. The hard-hitting prospect is batting 1.000 when it comes to first-round finishes, and he should waste no time testing his opponent’s compromised chin. After putting away each of his first three UFC opponents inside two minutes, Baraniewski should collect another swift stoppage on Saturday night in Los Angeles.
