UFC Fight Night 265: Volkan Oezdemir vs Alonzo Menifield Preview & Prediction
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Two heavy-handed light heavyweight finishers collide, as Switzerland’s knockout specialist Volkan Oezdemir takes on America’s explosive powerhouse Alonzo Menifield in a main-card showdown built for chaos.
Volkan Oezdemir vs Alonzo Menifield facts
What time are Volkan Oezdemir and Alonzo Menifield expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs Hooker? Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena, Al Rayyan, Qatar
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs Hooker? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs Hooker
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs Hooker on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs Hooker? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night 265: Tsarukyan vs Hooker main card
Arman Tsarukyan vs Dan Hooker (Lightweight)
Belal Muhammad vs Ian Machado Garry (Welterweight)
Volkan Oezdemir vs Alonzo Menifield (Light Heavyweight)
Jack Hermansson vs Myktybek Orolbai (Welterweight)
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Shamil Gaziev (Heavyweight)
Tagir Ulanbekov vs Kyoji Horiguchi (Flyweight)
UFC Fight Night 265: Tsarukyan vs Hooker prelims
Bogdan Grad vs Luke Riley (Featherweight)
Nicolas Dalby vs Saygid Izagakhmaev (Welterweight)
Alex Perez vs Asu Almabayev (Flyweight)
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev vs Rafael Cerqueira (Light Heavyweight)
Bekzat Almakhan vs Aleksandre Topuria (Bantamweight)
Ismail Naurdiev vs Ryan Loder (Middleweight)
Nurullo Aliev vs Shaqueme Rock (Lightweight)
Marek Bujlo vs Denzel Freeman (Heavyweight)
Volkan Oezdemir: Swiss veteran aiming to re-establish top-10 dominance
Volkan “No Time” Oezdemir (20-8), representing Switzerland, returns to the Octagon as the #9 ranked light heavyweight and one of the most experienced strikers in the division. A former title challenger, Oezdemir has faced the absolute elite at 205—Daniel Cormier, Jiri Procházka, Magomed Ankalaev, Nikita Krylov, and Aleksandar Rakić—and has consistently proven he can compete at the highest level. His game is built around sharp boxing, clean technical striking, and genuine fight-ending power, with 13 knockouts to his name. While he has traditionally struggled against the division’s top-tier monsters, he has repeatedly shown that anyone outside the elite circle is in real danger, as seen in his KO of Johnny Walker and his submission win over Bogdan Guskov.
Even though he’s coming off a loss to surging contender Carlos Ulberg, that setback has aged well given Ulberg’s current momentum. At 36, Oezdemir remains one of the most polished and dangerous early-round finishers in the division. He carries far superior striking fundamentals, a tighter guard, and cleaner shot selection than most of the division’s mid-ranked opponents. Against fighters who hesitate, slow down, or offer openings—traits Menifield has shown recently—Volkan thrives. With his durability still holding up and his experience in high-level firefights, this matchup plays strongly into his strengths.
Alonzo Menifield: American powerhouse whose style has shifted after costly knockouts
Alonzo “Atomic” Menifield (17-5-1), fighting out of the United States, comes in ranked #14 and riding a pair of decision wins that stabilized his position in the division. Early in his career, Menifield was known for his explosive, swing-heavy style—charging forward with wild power shots capable of folding anyone. But back-to-back knockout losses to Azamat Murzakanov and Carlos Ulberg forced a major stylistic adjustment. Now, Menifield fights far more cautiously, with a low-output, patient approach that prioritizes safety over chaos. While this has helped preserve his chin, it has also drastically reduced his finishing threat and left him struggling against taller, more technical strikers who can dictate the pace from the outside.
Despite owning 10 knockouts and still possessing elite physicality, Menifield’s longstanding cardio concerns remain a major liability. He slows significantly after the first round, and his offense becomes predictable when fatigue sets in. Against someone like Oezdemir—who maintains steady pressure, stays composed in exchanges, and punishes defensive lapses—Menifield’s reluctance to let his hands go becomes a serious problem. His recent results show he can grind out lesser opponents, but he has historically struggled when matched with more seasoned, accurate, and fundamentally sound strikers.
Volkan Oezdemir vs Alonzo Menifield prediction:
Oezdemir is the far superior boxer, the cleaner technician, and the more complete mixed martial artist. Menifield is far too open to shots, especially early, and his low-output style will give Oezdemir clear opportunities to land. While Volkan may fall short against the absolute elite of the division, he typically wins in style against mid-level opponents—and this matchup strongly fits that pattern. Expect Oezdemir to connect early, exploit Menifield’s defensive gaps, and deliver a sharp bounce-back performance.
Official Prediction: Volkan Oezdemir to win by KO/TKO.
