Alonzo Menifield and Julius Walker meet Saturday on the UFC Fight Night 252 main card at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
Last event: 2-2-1
UFC main cards, 2025: 10-10-1
Menifield (15-5-1 MMA, 8-5-1 UFC) is looking to avoid the dreaded three-fight losing streak that signals trouble for most veterans’ careers. Menifield has been finished by Carlos Ulberg (in 12 seconds) and Azamat Murzakanov in his past two fights. … Walker (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is making his UFC debut after turning pro in April 2023. All six of his victorioes have been stoppages.
Despite having guaranteed bangers like Andre Fili vs. Melquizael Costa being stuck on the prelims, the UFC matchmakers decided to double down on their fetish of force-feeding us lower-level big men on main cards by cobbling together a booking between Menifield and Walker as the opener.
In Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby’s defense, Menifield and Walker both appear to be genuine athletes and good guys, so I hope that my hyperbolic words don’t land too harshly as I point out the matchmakers’ tendencies. And for all our sakes, let’s hope that Maynard and Shelby are right by putting these two in this low-key important slot.
Walker, for a fighter as tall as he is, almost looks shorter given how smoothly he moves (particularly in grappling transitions).
Whether he’s hitting wrist-feed rides like a giant Islam Makhachev or his flowing into triangle chokes from mount, Walker looks to have the skills to surprise a lot of heavyweights who aren’t on their game. That said, Walker has shown a bit of porous striking defense in the past, so seeing his night end early courtesy of a Menifield hook wouldn’t be the craziest thing in the world.
Although part of me wants to take a flier on the underdog in Walker to win by submission, something tells me this is the classic ‘too much, too soon’ prospect loss. Moreover, Menifield is reportedly back with Fortis MMA, which I believe is a good trend given my respect for their head coach, Sayif Saud.
But considering that Menifield is coming off of two stoppage losses, I suspect that we get a much more conservative version of him this time around.
I hope I’m wrong, but I see a fight full of sloppy cage pushing and grappling that goes the distance. The pick is Menifield by decision.
The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the more experienced fighter, listing Menifield (-230) and Walker (+184) via FanDuel.
As the main card opener, Menifield and Walker are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 9:10 p.m. ET. The fight will stream on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
Sign up for our newsletter to get updates to your inbox, and also receive offers from us, our affiliates and partners. By signing up you agree to our Privacy Policy
Sign up for our newsletter to get updates to your inbox, and also receive offers from us, our affiliates and partners. By signing up you agree to our Privacy Policy
© Copyright MMA Junkie 2025
Powered by WordPress.com VIP
Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker UFC Seattle preview
Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker UFC Seattle expert pick, prediction
Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker UFC Seattle odds
Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker UFC Seattle start time, how to watch
Upcoming Events
Most Popular
ADVERTISEMENT
Like this article?
ADVERTISEMENT
Want the latest news and insights in MMA?
Photos: UFC Fight Night 252 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs
UFC Fight Night 252 live updates: Results, round-by-round coverage of every fight
UFC Fight Night 252 predictions: Is Cejudo or Song the better man in Seattle?
Diego Lopes says Ilia Topuria vacating title after UFC’s ‘very clear’ message
Photos: Miesha Tate through the years
Dana White explains Ilia Topuria’s decision to vacate UFC featherweight title
Photos: UFC Fight Night 252 official weigh-ins
ADVERTISEMENT
Follow MMAJ!
Sign up for our newsletter to get updates to your inbox, and also receive offers from us, our affiliates and partners. By signing up you agree to our Privacy Policy
See MMAJ stories in your feed
UFC fighter nicknamed ‘Juice’ for his OJ resemblance promises murder-free debut in Seattle — ‘The glove won’t fit’
FILED UNDER:
You must acquit!
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight newcomer, Julius Walker, makes his proper Octagon debut this weekend (Sat., Feb. 22, 2025) on the main card of UFC Seattle, taking on No. 15-ranked Alonzo Menifield from inside Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.
During UFC Seattle media day (watch here), Walker explained the origin of his nickname “Juice Box” … and it’s a fun story.
RELATED
“So, I played basketball in college [Drury University], and my coach [Steve Hesser] — one of the best basketball minds you’ll ever meet — started calling me ‘juice’ when I was a freshman,” Walker told MMAmania.com. “And yeah, if you’re wondering, it’s because he said I looked like a young O.J. [Simpson].
“Back then, I couldn’t grow any facial hair,” Walker continued. “I was 18 years old, had a baby face, and had a little baby. He said, ‘Man, you look like a young O.J.’ So, he started calling me, ‘Juice.’ My teammates added ‘juice box,’ ‘juice barrel,’ ‘juice bucket,’ and ‘juice gallon.’
Israel Adesanya Reacts To Hall of Fame Induction: ‘I Am Forever Grateful To Kelvin Gastelum’
“I picked ‘Juice Box’ when I went into the fighting world because it’s pretty brandable,” Walker concluded.
RELATED
Simpson, of course, was a former Hall-of-Fame NFL running back for the Buffalo Bills, who was infamously acquitted of the double murder of his ex-wife a male acquaintance. And Walker is leaning all-in on the uncanny resemblance planning to be a killer like the former gridiron great … sort of.
“You know, I would like to say figuratively, ‘yes,’ literally ‘no,’” Walker added. “For my wife watching at home, you should be good — I don’t plan on doing none of that crazy stuff.
“The glove won’t fit,” Walker quipped.
“Juice Box” is currently undefeated (6-0) and has a 100 percent finish rate with four knockouts.
RELATED
BANTAMWEIGHT BANGER! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Seattle for the first time in 12 years with former 135-pound champion, Henry Cejudo, topping the Climate Pledge Arena fight card on Feb. 22 against Top 10 bantamweight contender, Yadong Song. In addition, up-and-coming middleweight contenders, Brendan Allen and Anthony Hernandez, rematch for a spot in the division Top 10 in UFC Seattle’s hard-hitting co-headliner.
Don’t miss a single second of face-punching action!
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Seattle card right here, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 9 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To check out the latest and greatest UFC Seattle: “Cejudo vs. Song” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
Follow MMAmania.com online:
Site search
MMAmania.com main menu
Share this story
Israel Adesanya Reacts To Hall of Fame Induction: ‘I Am Forever Grateful To Kelvin Gastelum’
MORE FROM MMAMANIA.COM
Sign up for the newsletter
Sign up for the MMA Mania Daily Roundup newsletter!
LIVE! Stream UFC Seattle On ESPN+
GET THE LATEST GEAR
MOST READ
Live! UFC Seattle Media Day!
Up Next! UFC Returns To Seattle For ‘Cejudo Vs Song’
Predictions, Odds, Analysis! UFC Seattle, X-Factor
Loading comments…
JULIUS WALKER | A NEW JOURNEY BEGINS
On February 12, Julius Walker was getting ready for a home game in Springfield, Missouri.
With a 6-0 pro record that included a November stoppage of UFC vet Bevon Lewis, the 25-year-old Walker was staying busy with a February 22 bout against Mark Currier in the Synergy FC promotion before starting to look at what it was going to take to get into the UFC.
Dana White Announces Main Events For UFC 314 And UFC 315
Then the phone rang with an offer for an all-expenses paid trip to Seattle.
To fight Alonzo Menifield. In the UFC.
“Honestly, I thought that I would probably have the little fight I had coming up and maybe potentially one more, and then probably do the Contender Series in the fall and hopefully that goes well, and then boom, hopefully I’m fighting in the UFC at the end of the year,” said Walker of his 2025 plans before those plans changed. “But for it to happen the way that it did, it’s just been a crazy blessing. It’s been a super, super pleasant surprise.”
Yeah, this is much better.
“So much better,” Walker laughs, seemingly unbothered by the spotlight about to hit him on Saturday when he steps into Climate Pledge Arena for the biggest fight of his career.
“I think it’ll really sink in once we get to the arena or maybe when I get to Seattle or shoot, maybe it’ll be when I’m walking out, but I definitely want to just do my best to soak the whole moment in. I’ll only get to debut in the UFC one time, and I got to make the most of it.”
UFC Seattle Full Fight Card Preview
That cool under pressure will be necessary against the vastly more experienced Menifield, owner of a 15-5-1 record that includes 14 trips to the Octagon. That’s a lot to give up in terms of experience, but it’s key to point out that when Menifield made his UFC debut in 2019, he was just 7-0 as a pro.
“Anybody that fights and is getting to this level, it’s something that you’ve done for a long time and you do regularly, and I think a lot of the time we build it up a little bit more in our head because we’re getting in our underwear and doing it in front of people, and you usually have six to eight weeks to build it up in your head, but, at the end of the day, it’s just another fight and whatever happens, it’ll happen and life will go on.”
He’s right, but that realistic view of things doesn’t usually translate to professional fighting, or any professional sport, for that matter. Especially not at 25 years old. But Walker has always been like this, as evidenced by his view of his pro potential as a Division II basketball player for Drury University.
“Maybe I could have gone to Europe and played a little bit,” he said. “Some of my old teammates were playing a bit in Europe, but I definitely did not have super high-end pro potential. I was a college level player.”
Order UFC 313: Pereira vs Ankalaev
Yeah, Walker is built different.
“I’ve seen that top level, especially in basketball,” said Walker, who was also an All-State soccer player in high school. “I was much more of a basketball player. I loved soccer. Honestly, it’s probably my favorite sport to watch other than MMA, but I don’t know, I’ve seen that top level. And in basketball, the things you have to be able to do to be a high-level professional basketball player are very difficult.”
Making it to the top level in mixed martial arts is very difficult, too. But here he is, and when he looks at what his ceiling is, the forecast is a lot different than it was in the other sports he excelled in.
“I believe in myself a hundred percent and that’s what I’m training for,” he said. “I think that anybody that starts training has to be very real with themselves and what they’re pursuing and why they’re pursuing the sport. Not everybody is necessarily training to be a world champion, but if that’s what you want to do, then you have to train a certain way. You have to look at yourself and take things seriously, and that’s something that I really dedicated myself to.”
FOLLOW @UFCNEWS: On Facebook | On Instagram | On X
After 10 amateur fights, Walker turned pro in 2023, and he was off to the races. Now he’s in the fast lane, foot firmly on the gas.
“I think when you look at the world of pro MMA, you’ve got people who are doing it for different things,” he said. “If you find those guys that are training to be the best in the world and fight at the highest level, which is what I’m going to be fighting on Saturday night, that’s a whole other level compared to some of these regional guys who are more so doing it just for the paycheck. And I definitely think that, at this point, moving into the UFC, I’m starting from zero. I’m 0-0 again, and it feels kind of like my pro debut in a sense. I was climbing a ladder and now I’ve reached a new floor and I’ve got to get on a whole new ladder. So I’m focused on making sure that I start that journey on the right path.”
Don’t miss a moment of UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs Song, live from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington on February 22, 2025. Prelims start at 6pm ET/3pm PT, while the main card kicks off live on ESPN+ at 9pm ET/6pm PT.
The Official Weights Of The Athletes Competing Feb. 22 At UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs Song
UFC 314 Tickets Go On Sale 10am ET/7am PT On Friday, February 21
Middleweight Contenders Anthony Hernandez And Brendan Allen Reflect On Their First Fight And Their Rematch Seven Year
