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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson and Ken Hathaway

Alonzo Menifield knew power would level the playing field in UFC 296 win over Dustin Jacoby

LAS VEGAS – Alonzo Menifield beat Dustin Jacoby with a unanimous decision Saturday to close out the preliminary card at UFC 296 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Menifield, who quietly has gone 6-1-1 over the past three years at light heavyweight.

Dustin Jacoby vs. Alonzo Menifield

Dec 16, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alonzo Menifield (red gloves) fights Dustin Jacoby (blue gloves) during UFC 296 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Result: Alonzo Menifield def. Dustin Jacoby via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Updated records: Menifield (15-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC), Jacoby (19-8-1 MMA, 7-5-1 UFC)
Key stats: Jacoby won the striking battle overall thanks to a strong first round, but Menifield had the fight’s only knockdown.

Menifield on the fight's key moment

Dec 16, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alonzo Menifield (red gloves) fights Dustin Jacoby (blue gloves) during UFC 296 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

“I know he’s a veteran as far as kickboxing and now MMA, so his style, I know I’m going to zap him, touch him, touch him – and that’s how I win the fight. I knew going into that fight I have to really bring it to him. Leading up to the fight, I had a lot of issues, rolled ankle, just issues with me. But I knew I have the power to put him down. That’s what I was banking on.”

Menifield on Jacoby’s power

Dec 16, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alonzo Menifield (red gloves) fights Dustin Jacoby (blue gloves) during UFC 296 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

“Knowing that dude’s a striker – and that’s Dustin; he’s a veteran – I was on edge. Just going to that fight, I was like, ‘All right, no mistakes,’ or no big mistakes. I knew I can’t have him zap me too much, and ultimately, I’ve got to land the power somewhere, and it worked.”

Menifield on what he wants next

Alonzo Menifield

“I’m just going to rest up, get back to work, train and keep at it.”

To hear more from Menifield, check out the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 296.

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