Alonzo Menifield and Oumar Sy faced off in a light heavyweight bout as the main card of UFC Atlanta unfolded at the State Farm Arena on Saturday. Menifield entered the octagon fresh off a notable victory over Julius Walker, while Sy boasted an impressive record of 11-0 in his professional career, making this matchup a highly anticipated clash of powerhouses.
From the outset, both fighters showcased their knockout potential, engaging in powerful exchanges. Menifield, known for his striking, nearly connected with significant blows in the early moments. On the other hand, Sy utilized his jab effectively but found himself pressured against the cage towards the end of the first round. The action paused briefly when Menifield suffered an accidental eye poke, prompting the referee to intervene and allow him time to recover. The first round concluded with no takedown attempts, highlighting the fighters' preference for striking.
As the second round began, Sy shifted his strategy by attempting a takedown, but Menifield demonstrated solid balance and countered effectively with a whizzer, thwarting the effort. Although Menifield's brief guillotine attempt did not materialize, Sy maintained control, eating up invaluable clock time. With just over a minute left in the round, Sy successfully executed a takedown. However, Menifield quickly got back to his feet, refusing to stay down for long.
In the third round, Menifield found himself against the cage again as Sy aimed to build on his previous momentum. Sy engaged in a striking exchange, throwing a powerful right hand that ultimately missed its mark. Despite his successful takedown in round two, Sy opted for a striking battle that led to a lower output of strikes, primarily consisting of single shots exchanged between the fighters.
Sy's decision to focus less on wrestling in the third round likely contributed to his downfall. The judges awarded Alonzo Menifield the unanimous decision victory with all three judges scoring the fight 29-28 in his favor. This victory not only delivered Menifield a pivotal win but also marked the first loss in Oumar Sy's professional career.
The official result confirmed Alonzo Menifield defeated Oumar Sy by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). This match showcased Menifield's resilience and striking capabilities, solidifying his place in the competitive light heavyweight division.
