MMA Preview – Alonzo Menifield vs Paul Craig at UFC on ESPN 3
THE FACTS
When is UFC on ESPN 3? Sunday 30th June, 2019 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC on ESPN 3? Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
What channel is UFC on ESPN 3 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC on ESPN 3? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live and you can take advantage of a free trial with ESPN+ and subscribe now by clicking here!
Are tickets still available for UFC on ESPN 3? https://www.ufc.com/tickets
THE STATISTICS
THE LOWDOWN
The main card for UFC ESPN on 3 kicks off with two light heavyweight lumps who don’t do decisions as Alonzo Menifield and Paul Craig head to Minneapolis to add another finish to their records.
Menifield is a behemoth of a man and has blitzed through eight of his opponents so far. He earned an opportunity on Dana White’s Contender Series after picking up his first submission and seized it spectacularly with an eight-second TKO over Dashawn Boatright. He then continued his assault on his UFC debut with another TKO over Vinicius Moreira.
Craig continues to build his experience but keeps stumbling into animals in the division. After getting starched by Tyson Pedro and Khalil Rountree, he pulled off a last-second submission over Magomed Ankalaev but was submitted himself against the unbeaten Jimmy Crute. He got back to his submitting ways in his last fight with another triangle choke over Kennedy Nzechukwu but he has been assigned another up-and-coming fighter.
THE PREDICTION
Craig has to try and get the fight to the floor. Menifield can grapple but Craig will make quick work of him on the mat but he is likely to suffer the same fate as Moreira.
The Brazilian managed to clinch up with Menifield but could not match his power and drag him to the canvas and with a moment of space was eventually put to bed with a blistering right hand.
We can rest assured the judges will not be needed and if Craig can’t secure a takedown it will be goodnight for the Scotsman.
Winner: Menifield via KO/TKO
Striking and grappling stats sourced via FightMetric.
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