Dec 7, 2018; Toronto, ON, Canada; Devin Clark poses as he weighs in during weigh-ins for UFC 231 at Scotiabank Arena. Photo by: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Devin Clark says someone, “Going to get knocked out” in UFC 250 bout with Alonzo Menifield
There’s few other guys Devin Clark would rather fight than Alonzo Menifield right now.
Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, Clark lost his original bout with Menifield, scheduled for UFC on ESPN+32 on May 2. Over a month later, the 30-year-old finally meets Menifield at UFC 250 inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, June 6.
“We really like the fight. It is such a good fight to make,” Clark said.
“There is going to be fireworks. It’s a good fight for me and I know he thinks it’s a good fight for him.”
As far as finishing opponents go, opposites collide on June 6. All five of Clark’s octagon wins come by unanimous decision. Menifield, who is undefeated, is yet to go past the second round.
Devin Clark is no stranger to grinding out a win, most recently defeating Dequan Townsend by unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN+25 on Feb. 15.
Menifield prefers a shorter route to getting his hand raised. Since making his UFC debut in January 2019, Menifield earned back-to-back first-round TKO finishes against Paul Craig and Vinicius Moreira.
Menifield also earned his UFC contract by disposing of Dashawn Boatwright with an eight-second TKO on Dana White’s Contender Series in June 2018.
“It’s an exciting fight with two big, powerful guys,” Clark said. “Someone is probably going to get knocked out.”
Been there, done that
Entering his ninth fight in the UFC, Clark has handed three different opponents their first octagon defeat.
He ended a eight-fight win streak for Darko Stosic at UFC on ESPN+ 11 in June 2019, which included six finishes. Previously to his Stosic victory, Clark beat Mike Rodriguez at UFC 223 in April 2018. Rodriguez entered the bout with four consecutive first-round TKO victories.
With six finishes in eight-straight wins, Josh Stanbury also lost to Clark at The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale in December 2016.
This bout is all too familiar for the light-heavyweight.
“There’s a lot of people who can knock people out in the first round,” Clark said. “I’ve dealt with them quite a bit in the past and I beat the shit out of them.”
Another Fortis Foe
Clark is familiar with Menifield’s training grounds at Fortis MMA in Dallas, Texas. His most recent loss is by a second-round guillotine to Menifield’s teammate, Ryan Spann at UFC on ESPN+ 19 in October 2019.
On his agenda is proving he is better than his fight with Spann.
“I know they feel like they have the upper hand here and have me figured out,” Clark said. “When I fought his teammate Ryan Spann, I think I played into his skillset a little too much and not mine.
“I owe them one for sure. I shouldn’t have lost that night, I’m a better fighter than Ryan Spann.”
No finishes inside the octagon is no problem for Clark. He remains on the UFC roster with the help of his ability to outlast his opponents.
Clark expects Saturday to be no different.
“I use my skill set, which is being able to grind people out and being able to break them, especially guys like this who haven’t been out of the first round very much,” Clark said. “He doesn’t know what that third round feels like with Devin Clark on top of him, going on 10-15 minutes. It’s exhausting and usually they want out.”
