Ivo Baranievski (3-0 in the UFC) will face Alonzo Menifield (11-6-1 in the UFC) at UFC 331 on September 19 at light heavyweight. Menifield is currently ranked No. 14 in the division, while Baranievski is outside the top 15.
Ivo Baranievski and Alonzo Menifield have been booked to meet at light heavyweight when UFC 331 takes place on September 19.
Baranievski enters the bout riding a perfect three-fight winning streak inside the octagon. The unranked prospect has positioned himself as one of the more intriguing names on the fringes of the 205-pound division, and a win over a ranked opponent would represent a significant step up in competition.
Menifield, nicknamed "Atomic," brings considerably more UFC experience to the cage. The 38-year-old American holds an overall professional record of 17-6-1 and is currently slotted at No. 14 in the light heavyweight rankings. Standing six feet tall with a 76-inch reach, the orthodox fighter out of Saekson Muay Thai has built a reputation as a striker, landing 3.77 significant strikes per minute at a 53 percent accuracy rate. His grappling output is measured — he averages 0.5 takedowns per 15 minutes — suggesting he prefers to keep the fight on the feet.
Why it matters
- A Baranievski victory would vault him into the official light heavyweight rankings for the first time in his UFC career.
- For Menifield, a loss would put further pressure on his standing at No. 14 after an uneven run in recent years.
- The stylistic matchup pits Menifield's established striking game against a young fighter eager to prove he belongs in ranked company.
- At 38, Menifield has limited runway to climb the division, making every result at this stage of his career consequential.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
