By Safeer MS
Carlos Ulberg made quick work of Alonzo Menifield with a 12-second knockout. Menifield was ranked 11th before the fight and has now dropped to 13 with Ulberg taking his spot. Ulberg won the Performance of the Night bonus for his troubles and Menifield might be lamenting at his lapse in judgement by rushing Ulberg.
What’s next for Carlos Ulberg?
Carlos Ulberg made his promotional debut against Kennedy Nzechukwu at UFC 259. Like his City Kickboxing teammate Israel Adesanya, Ulberg did not have a great night at UFC 259. Adesanya lost his attempt to claim Jan Blachowicz while Ulberg lost in the second round via TKO to Nzechukwu. Ulberg rebounded with a decision victory over Fabio Cherant at UFC 271. He has won 5 more after UFC 271, all via finish. Against Menifield, Ulberg showcased his slick counterstriking, as expected of someone from City Kickboxing.
Since he was unranked, Ulberg was flying under the radar. Now, with the quick knockout against Menifield, Ulberg has sent a statement to the light heavyweight division which is without viable contenders apart from the fighters in the top 5. Looking up at the rankings, it's highly possible that Ulberg could attain victory against most of them. As for his next matchup, Nikita Krylov and Johnny Walker are good options.
What’s next for Alonzo Menifield?
Alonzo Menifield had his 5-fight winning streak snapped at St. Louis. After his loss to William Knight, Menifield went 4-0-1 before he faced Carlos Ulberg. Despite the loss, there is less chance that he lost his stock. Nevertheless, a loss is a loss and it would put you down the pecking order, particularly if it is a quick finish. With the power he possesses, he is someone to watch out for. Ulberg had even stated before the fight that he foresaw fighting Menifield multiple times before his career was over.
As for his next fight, he would likely match up well against fighters in the 10-15 rankings. Anthony Smith, Azamat Murzakanov, and Bogdan Guskov could be potentially next for Menifield. It also won't be a surprise to see Menifield fight a dangerous unranked contender. Since he has the power to knock anybody’s lights out at light heavyweight, the UFC would likely put him in an exciting fight. Learning from his mistake against Ulberg, he should be patient and let the fight get to him rather than forcing it.
