TLDR
- Volkan Oezdemir (20-8) enters as the favorite at -250 against Alonzo Menifield (17-5-1) at +190
- Both light heavyweight fighters possess one-punch knockout power with most finishes coming by KO/TKO
- Oezdemir holds advantages in height and striking volume but Menifield has better accuracy and recent momentum
- Oezdemir has finished his last two wins in the first round while Menifield has won two straight decisions
- The fight takes place at UFC Qatar with odds favoring an early finish at -205 for under 2.5 rounds
Main Event Odds
Arman Tsarukyan (-650) vs. Dan Hooker (+470)
Full Fight Card Odds
- Belal Muhammad (+220) vs. Ian Machado Garry (-270)
- Volkan Oezdemir (-225) vs. Alonzo Menifield (+185)
- Jack Hermansson (+205) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (-250)
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta (-135) vs. Shamil Gaziev (+114)
- Tagir Ulanbekov (-218) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi (+180)
- Bogdan Grad (+210) vs. Luke Riley (-258)
- Nicolas Dalby (+275) vs. Saygid Izagakhmaev (-345)
- Alex Perez (+180) vs. Asu Almabayev (-218)
- Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev (-1650) vs. Raffael Cerqueira (+950)
- Bekzat Almakhan (+114) vs. Aleksandre Topuria (-135)
- Ismael Naurdiev (-142) vs. Ryan Loder (+120)
- Nurullo Aliev (-290) vs. Shem Rock (+235)
- Marek Bujlo (+170) vs. Denzel Freeman (-213)
Fight Time: 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 9 p.m. local time in Qatar Prelims: 10 a.m. ET on ESPN+
Volkan Oezdemir will face Alonzo Menifield in a ranked light heavyweight bout at UFC Qatar this weekend. The No. 9 ranked Oezdemir comes in as a -250 betting favorite against the No. 14 ranked Menifield at +190.
Oezdemir brings a 20-8 record with eight years of UFC experience since 2017. He has gone 8-7 inside the octagon and is coming off a decision loss to Carlos Ulberg. The Swiss fighter stands 6-foot-2 with a 75-inch reach and has split his last six fights at 3-3.
Menifield holds a 17-5-1 record with five years in the UFC since 2019. He has compiled a 10-5-1 mark in the promotion and is riding momentum with back-to-back decision wins. The Texas native stands six feet tall with a 76-inch reach and has won four of his last six fights.
The striking statistics paint an interesting picture for this matchup. Oezdemir lands 4.95 strikes per minute at 48% accuracy while absorbing 4.22 strikes. Menifield throws fewer strikes at 3.79 per minute but connects at a superior 53% accuracy rate while absorbing just 3.76 strikes.
Both fighters show strong takedown defense with Oezdemir at 80% and Menifield at 78%. Neither fighter presents a serious grappling threat, each averaging just 0.50 takedowns per fight. This fight will almost certainly be decided on the feet.
Knockout Power and Recent Form
Oezdemir has 13 knockouts and two submissions on his record. His last two victories came by first-round knockout, demonstrating his early finishing ability. He defends incoming strikes at a 55% rate and has proven difficult to put away despite facing top competition.
Menifield owns nine knockouts and four submissions in his career. However, he has not finished a fight by knockout since 2022. His striking defense sits at 50%, five percent lower than his opponent.
The underdog recently pulled off a major upset as a +500 betting underdog against Oumar Sy. Menifield used footwork and range management to tire out Sy while defending takedowns. He has shown improved fight IQ in his recent outings.
Betting Lines and Predictions
The odds for the fight ending before the scorecards favor an early finish. The under 2.5 rounds sits at -205 while the over stands at +156. This reflects both fighters’ knockout power and the division’s tendency toward early stoppages.
Multiple betting predictions favor Oezdemir to win by KO/TKO at +140. His aggressive striking volume and counter-punching ability make him dangerous throughout the fight. His two-inch height advantage gives him an edge in range control.
Menifield’s moneyline at +190 offers value based on his recent form and superior striking accuracy. His one-inch reach advantage despite being shorter creates opportunities for counter-striking. The conservative approach he has adopted in recent fights could frustrate Oezdemir’s aggressive style.
Both fighters need this win to maintain their positions in the competitive 205-pound division. Oezdemir looks to bounce back from his loss to Ulberg while Menifield aims to continue his winning streak and crack the top 10.
