UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Gastelum · Aug 21, 2021 · Light Heavyweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Gastelum Next Fight
Age 38
Height 5' 10"
Reach 73.0"
Weight 205 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 31
Height 6' 1"
Reach 74.0"
Weight 205 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Career Averages - William Knight
2.62 SLpM
56.0% Str. Acc.
3.3 SApM
35.0% Str. Def.
1.78 TD Avg
40.0% TD Acc.
48.0% TD Def.
0.4 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Fabio Cherant
1.35 SLpM
40.0% Str. Acc.
4.89 SApM
38.0% Str. Def.
0.0 TD Avg
0.0% TD Acc.
0.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
William Knight
Moneyline
Caesars -170
KO/TKO
FanDuel +165
Submission
FanDuel +1400
Decision
BetRivers +350
Fabio Cherant
Moneyline
FanDuel +160
KO/TKO
BetMGM +950
Submission
FanDuel +600
Decision
BetRivers +450
William Knight - Fight History
LOSS vs Marcin Prachnio
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield · Feb 18, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marcin Prachnio 0 8 of 33 24% 8 of 33 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
William Knight 0 79 of 144 54% 79 of 144 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marcin Prachnio 0 3 of 10 30% 3 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
William Knight 0 26 of 48 54% 26 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Marcin Prachnio 0 1 of 10 10% 1 of 10 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
William Knight 0 29 of 49 59% 29 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Marcin Prachnio 0 4 of 13 30% 4 of 13 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
William Knight 0 24 of 47 51% 24 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marcin Prachnio 8 of 33 24% 0 of 13 2 of 8 6 of 12 8 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
William Knight 79 of 144 54% 9 of 36 7 of 25 63 of 83 79 of 144 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marcin Prachnio 3 of 10 30% 0 of 3 2 of 3 1 of 4 3 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
William Knight 26 of 48 54% 1 of 10 3 of 11 22 of 27 26 of 48 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Marcin Prachnio 1 of 10 10% 0 of 5 0 of 3 1 of 2 1 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
William Knight 29 of 49 59% 5 of 12 2 of 8 22 of 29 29 of 49 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Marcin Prachnio 4 of 13 30% 0 of 5 0 of 2 4 of 6 4 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
William Knight 24 of 47 51% 3 of 14 2 of 6 19 of 27 24 of 47 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Marcin Prachnio

Angelo has a one-unit bet on Prachnio but expresses buyer's remorse. He thinks Prachnio is the better technical fighter with a karate background, but his chin is a concern. Angelo notes William Knight is a powerful, fast bodybuilder-type who can wrestle, but is inconsistent and missed weight by 12 pounds. He believes Prachnio should win if he doesn't get caught, but admits the bet is risky.

One-unit moneyline bet on Prachnio. Also mentions William Knight by KO +185 and Prachnio by KO +250, and Knight by submission +1200.
"I got one unit on marcine prach now... it is the riskiest conservative Ange."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2023 (5 days before fight)
William Knight

Big Brady favors Knight because of his wrestling path, as Prachnio has poor takedown defense (around 50%) and terrible cardio, gassing out by six minutes in his last fight. He thinks Knight can take him down, wear on him, and get a second-round knockout. He notes that both have durability issues, but Knight's power and cardio give him the edge.

Knight by KO, round 2
"I gotta go William not here and the reason being I think he has a path to Victory here and that path to Victory he's going to be to wrestle"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Marcin Prachnio

Cody picks Prachnio, noting William Knight has struggled with weight cuts and is now moving back to 205 after a failed heavyweight stint. He details Knight's history of botched weight cuts and poor performances when depleted. He says Prachnio has volume and cardio advantages, and even if Knight gets takedowns, he won't do enough with them. He calls it an even money fight but likes Prachnio as the betting underdog.

Cody notes Prachnio is technically the betting underdog. He mentions Knight's weight issues: came in at 218 for a 205 fight, then 251 at heavyweight.
"It's pretty much an even money fight but like ever so slightly marcine praknow is technically the betting Underdog and so uh talker pass baby sign me up with Marcin pracneo."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Marcin Prachnio

Connor agrees with Zane, noting that Knight's counter punching is technically poor and he cannot put together combinations. Prachnio will get hurt but is unlikely to be finished. Knight's lack of follow-up means Prachnio can recover and win rounds.

"Yeah, we're agreed picking Prochno it just always also like... Light heavyweight is just so that division. Lots of power, not a lot of durability."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
William Knight

Jacob picks William Knight, citing his explosiveness and power as a perfect matchup against Prachnio's karate style. He thinks once Knight starts landing, Prachnio will shell up against the fence and get finished. Jacob notes Knight's aggression and ability to pounce, and believes Prachnio's chin is weak. He also mentions the under 1.5 rounds feels like a trap but thinks Knight will get the KO.

"I'm gonna go William Knight in this match I think it's a good matchup for his explosiveness."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Marcin Prachnio

Prachnio's kick-heavy, movement-based style should keep him safe from Knight's early power. Knight fades after round one and has poor cardio. Prachnio can use his range and footwork to win a decision, though his chin is a concern. Live betting after round one is suggested.

over 1.5 rounds; Prachnio wins by decision
"I like the over one and a half as well... I think that ultimately we'll see Prachnio... picking up a decision Victory."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Marcin Prachnio

Paul picks Prachnio, saying he struggles to get to William Knight. He notes Knight's volume isn't there and he's not sure about his grappling. He says Prachnio should box him up at range with volume as long as he stays upright. He acknowledges Knight can land a bomb, but thinks more often than not Prachnio wins. He says he's not sure if he'll bet it but is picking Prachnio.

Paul mentions the line moved from Prachnio being a slight favorite to money coming in on Knight. He says he'll take the ever-so-slight dog.
"I'll take the ever so slight dog and marcine pracneo just you know keep your chin in one piece."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
William Knight

The MMA Guru picks William Knight, but is undecided. He acknowledges Marcin Prachnio is not bad and beat Khalil Rountree, but notes Prachnio's chin is suspect, having been finished three times in his last six fights by KO. He believes Knight will find that chin and get a KO, either by dominant position or big shot on the feet, but emphasizes Knight must be aggressive.

KO
"I'm gonna go with William Knight Finding that chin at some point William Knight will find that chin and Martin pratch Neo's chin is not the best"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Marcin Prachnio

Zane picks Prachnio because he is a better striker and more determined than Knight. Knight has power but lacks form and follow-up, and he turns into a counter puncher when pressured. Prachnio takes available targets and will win rounds. Knight may hurt him but likely won't finish, and Prachnio's improved durability should see him through.

Prachnio opened -110, now -103; Knight opened -110, now -119. Zane says 'don't bet on this' and 'don't watch this card.'
"Yeah, we're agreed picking Prochno it just always also like... Light heavyweight is just so that division. Lots of power, not a lot of durability."
LOSS vs Devin Clark
TKO (punches) R3 3:21 · UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. Muhammad 2 · Apr 16, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Devin Clark 1 34 of 47 72% 125 of 140 2 of 5 40% 0 0 5:46
William Knight 0 21 of 41 51% 39 of 59 1 of 1 100% 2 0 2:09
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Devin Clark 0 3 of 9 33% 33 of 39 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:14
William Knight 0 10 of 18 55% 19 of 27 0 of 0 --- 2 0 2:03
2 Devin Clark 0 12 of 15 80% 63 of 68 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:13
William Knight 0 6 of 9 66% 8 of 11 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:06
3 Devin Clark 1 19 of 23 82% 29 of 33 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:19
William Knight 0 5 of 14 35% 12 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Devin Clark 34 of 47 72% 19 of 30 5 of 6 10 of 11 25 of 37 4 of 5 5 of 5
William Knight 21 of 41 51% 11 of 29 3 of 3 7 of 9 16 of 35 5 of 6 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Devin Clark 3 of 9 33% 2 of 8 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 8 0 of 1 0 of 0
William Knight 10 of 18 55% 9 of 16 0 of 0 1 of 2 6 of 13 4 of 5 0 of 0
2 Devin Clark 12 of 15 80% 5 of 8 2 of 2 5 of 5 10 of 13 0 of 0 2 of 2
William Knight 6 of 9 66% 2 of 5 0 of 0 4 of 4 6 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Devin Clark 19 of 23 82% 12 of 14 2 of 3 5 of 6 12 of 16 4 of 4 3 of 3
William Knight 5 of 14 35% 0 of 8 3 of 3 2 of 3 4 of 13 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 10, 2022 (6 days before fight)
William Knight

Angelo picks William Knight, believing he hits too hard and has his own wrestling. He notes that both are moving up to heavyweight, but Knight will be the bigger, faster, and harder-hitting fighter. He expresses concern about Knight's cardio with added muscle and his wrestling defense, but still thinks Knight gets the win and redeems himself from the weight miss.

"i still think william knight gets this done i think he just hits too hard his cardio should be good enough"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 12, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Devin Clark

Big Brady picks Devin Clark to win by decision. He notes Clark has fought much better competition, has cardio, and can take the fight to the ground. He criticizes William Knight's 33% striking defense, low volume, poor takedown defense, and cardio issues. However, he is cautious because the fight is at heavyweight, which could favor Knight. He expects Clark to grind out a decision.

win by decision
"you got to go devin clark here and i got to go devin clark by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 12, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Devin Clark

Cody picks Clark, emphasizing his wrestling and clinch work. He thinks Clark can grind Knight against the cage and win a decision. He notes Knight's lack of output and Clark's edge in wrestling.

"i'll take devin clark devin clark my decision"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert picked Apr 14, 2022 (2 days before fight)

Daniel Levi has no clear pick for this fight. He acknowledges Devin Clark is much more skilled with good wrestling and experience, but notes he has been finished multiple times and can break mentally. William Knight is unskilled with poor defense but has tremendous toughness, power, and explosiveness, similar to Derrick Lewis. Levi says the fight could go either way depending on which version shows up, and he has no conviction on a pick.

"I don't know man I don't [ __ ] know."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Apr 12, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Devin Clark

Paul picks Clark but is hesitant, noting the weigh-ins will be important. He thinks Clark's wrestling and pace will be key, but worries about Clark's chin and Knight's power. He expects a decision win for Clark.

"i like clark i think in this spot as long as he doesn't get clipped"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2022 (5 days before fight)
William Knight

The MMA Guru picks William Knight by first-round KO. He notes the fight is at heavyweight, benefiting Knight who doesn't have to cut weight, and that Devin Clark is coming off a horrific jaw injury from Krzysztof Jotko. He believes Clark will be hesitant and Knight's power will prevail.

first round KO
"william knight gets it done by first round ko"
LOSS vs Maxim Grishin
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 271: Adesanya vs. Whittaker 2 · Feb 12, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Maxim Grishin 0 21 of 68 30% 32 of 79 3 of 9 33% 0 0 2:37
William Knight 0 69 of 89 77% 88 of 112 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:27
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Maxim Grishin 0 8 of 19 42% 8 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
William Knight 0 27 of 33 81% 27 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Maxim Grishin 0 5 of 26 19% 7 of 28 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:44
William Knight 0 25 of 32 78% 31 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:09
3 Maxim Grishin 0 8 of 23 34% 17 of 32 2 of 5 40% 0 0 1:53
William Knight 0 17 of 24 70% 30 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:18
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Maxim Grishin 21 of 68 30% 9 of 39 5 of 13 7 of 16 16 of 63 5 of 5 0 of 0
William Knight 69 of 89 77% 16 of 32 21 of 24 32 of 33 62 of 81 3 of 4 4 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Maxim Grishin 8 of 19 42% 0 of 4 4 of 7 4 of 8 8 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0
William Knight 27 of 33 81% 1 of 6 6 of 6 20 of 21 27 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Maxim Grishin 5 of 26 19% 3 of 15 0 of 5 2 of 6 5 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
William Knight 25 of 32 78% 7 of 12 10 of 12 8 of 8 22 of 29 1 of 1 2 of 2
3 Maxim Grishin 8 of 23 34% 6 of 20 1 of 1 1 of 2 3 of 18 5 of 5 0 of 0
William Knight 17 of 24 70% 8 of 14 5 of 6 4 of 4 13 of 19 2 of 3 2 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Maxim Grishin

Angelo picks Grishin because Knight is on short notice and may lack the cardio to push his usual pace. He thinks Knight will come out explosive in the first round, then fade, allowing Grishin to take over. He notes that a full-camp Knight would be his pick, but under these circumstances, Grishin is the choice. He suggests live betting to monitor Knight's cardio.

live betting
"the pick under these circumstances is maxim grisham"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Maxim Grishin

Big Brady is impressed with Grishin's well-rounded game, noting his striking and takedown defense are solid. He criticizes Knight's 36% striking defense and 45% takedown defense, and notes Knight is coming in on short notice. Brady believes Grishin can expose these weaknesses, either by taking Knight down or knocking him out. He picks Grishin to win by second or third round knockout, but acknowledges Knight has power and could win.

Grishin by second or third round knockout
"i think grisham gets it done here... by like a second or third round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Feb 9, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Maxim Grishin

Cody picks Grishin but is not fully confident. He notes Grishin is inconsistent but looked good against Jacoby. He thinks Knight could land a big shot but Grishin should win on volume and technique.

"the pick will be grisham low lower down lower down"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Feb 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
William Knight

Daniel Levi leans toward William Knight as an underdog, noting Knight's explosive power and ability to change fights with one shot. He acknowledges that Maxim Grishin is more technical and experienced, but Knight's intangibles make him dangerous. Levi is not fully confident and calls it a dog or pass situation.

"i'm going to lean that knight finds one of those moments and takes advantage"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Maxim Grishin

Grishin is a big light heavyweight who should be able to control Knight against the cage and outpoint him. Knight's only path to victory is a knockout, but Grishin is disciplined and can stay on the outside. Grishin's cardio is a concern, but he should win a decision if he fights smart. The line is a buy-low spot.

Grishin by decision
"i like the russian in this spot uh maybe uh you know a buy low spot for him as well around that -165 line considering that he in my opinion should be a slightly bigger favorite in the spot"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 9, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Maxim Grishin

Paul picks Grishin, citing his size and reach advantage. He notes Knight is short for the division and relies on a check left hook. He thinks Grishin can pick Knight apart at range and avoid the big shot.

"i think maxine grisham wins this fight on volume"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
William Knight

The MMA Guru picks William Knight by first-round KO, citing his athleticism and power. He accuses Knight of being on steroids and believes Grishin cannot avoid the knockout.

first round ko
"i'm gonna go of william knight he's on roids"
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo · Dec 04, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
William Knight 0 44 of 77 57% 66 of 99 0 of 2 0% 0 1 6:25
Alonzo Menifield 1 55 of 111 49% 82 of 139 1 of 4 25% 0 1 0:43
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 William Knight 0 6 of 12 50% 13 of 19 0 of 2 0% 0 1 3:07
Alonzo Menifield 1 19 of 25 76% 31 of 37 1 of 3 33% 0 1 0:43
2 William Knight 0 30 of 50 60% 30 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Alonzo Menifield 0 17 of 56 30% 17 of 56 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 William Knight 0 8 of 15 53% 23 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 3:18
Alonzo Menifield 0 19 of 30 63% 34 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
William Knight 44 of 77 57% 34 of 67 8 of 8 2 of 2 44 of 77 0 of 0 0 of 0
Alonzo Menifield 55 of 111 49% 32 of 82 14 of 19 9 of 10 38 of 93 10 of 10 7 of 8
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 William Knight 6 of 12 50% 6 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0 6 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
Alonzo Menifield 19 of 25 76% 10 of 16 6 of 6 3 of 3 6 of 11 6 of 6 7 of 8
2 William Knight 30 of 50 60% 22 of 42 6 of 6 2 of 2 30 of 50 0 of 0 0 of 0
Alonzo Menifield 17 of 56 30% 12 of 47 3 of 6 2 of 3 17 of 56 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 William Knight 8 of 15 53% 6 of 13 2 of 2 0 of 0 8 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
Alonzo Menifield 19 of 30 63% 10 of 19 5 of 7 4 of 4 15 of 26 4 of 4 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
William Knight vs. Alonzo Menifield

Round 1
Hold on tight, because two light heavyweight bangers are about to toe the line in what might not last very long. Rescheduled several times this year, Menifield (11-2, 4-2 UFC) and Knight (10-2, 2-1 UFC) will finally get to slug it out all while referee Herb Dean watches on. Finish rates for each above 90% likely mean that chins will be tested soon, but they do extend their gloves to touch before swinging for the bleachers. Buckle up. Two big punches immediately come for Menifield, with a one-two that Knight rolls with. Knight suddenly changes things up for a single, and he hits it but does not secure it as Menifield rolls through to reverse him and land in side control on top. The action stalls out from this position as Menifield does not want to commit to any strikes, and would rather use his body weight to crush Knight down and keep him flat on his back. Menifield sits up to set up a crucifix, and when he does, Knight bursts out of the position to force a scramble. They go back and forth, and Knight takes his foe’s back. Menifield explodes right back to turn and stand up, and when he pushes Knight into the wall, he thinks about going for a single of his own. Instead of this, “Atomic Alonzo” just uses his weight to press. Knight defends with a knee that glances off the cup, and Menifield waves it off to let them continue. Menifield pursues a single, and Knight grabs hold of a guillotine choke with his massive biceps to squeeze as tight as he can. Menifield cannot ground his opponent but does not appear to be in submission danger, and Knight knees him again and gets warned for close proximity to the cup since he cannot see where he is aiming. After a grueling clinch exchange, Menifield scores a big right hand that staggers Knight for a moment. The imbalance for Knight may also be from fatigue, as his footing is not quite right. They both throw bombs, and Knight cracks Menifield in a flurry to hurt Menifield badly. Menifield tumbles to the ground, and Knight follows him to throw his bowling ball fists into the head. Knight continues to pour it on to end the round, and when the horn sounds, both men appear spent. Menifield needs to be helped to his corner, as he is hurt and tired. He makes his way back to his stool.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Knight
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Knight
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Knight

Round 2
The big men come out to begin the second round with a frenzy, and Menifield stings his opponent with a few punches that make Knight sprint around the cage to gather himself. Menifield sits down on a huge right hand, measuring it and nearly knocking Knight off of his feet. He does not follow it up, instead measuring with a low kick and staying away of the potential counter from “Knightmare.” Menifield catches Knight coming in with a takedown try, and Knight lets it go to sling a head kick. Menifield eats it like Texas barbeque so that he can wing power punches, and Knight wears them well. Knight spins with a wheel kick that glances off the shoulder, and Menifield bears down on him to land a clean left hand. Both light heavyweights measure one another and catch their breath, largely throwing single swiping strikes. Menifield snaps his foe’s head back with a punch, and Knight flails back and manages to connect. Knight spins with a kick, dives in for a takedown, and backs off when Menifield slings heavy leather at him. Menifield paws out a jab, drawing a grin from Knight, and he reaches out another when it connects. Knight wings a left hand that just misses the mark, and he plods forward to set up a right. Menifield interrupts him with a few more jabs, breaking up the power punches that try to come at him. “Atomic” just misses with an explosive one-two, and he continues to work his jab to stop the looping shots ahead of time. Knight gets the memo and sneaks out his own jab, but Menifield’s is more effective and more active. Knight walks through them without concern, and he slings a right hand that collides off the head. “Knightmare” lets loose with a head kick that shakes Menifield up, and he tries to finish the job in the waning seconds with booming seconds but cannot get the job done before the round ends. Knight does land a punch after the bell, and promptly apologizes.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Menifield
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Menifield
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Menifield

Round 3
The fighters hug it out to start off the third round, and get right back to throwing hammers at one another. Knight has a bomb of a right hand glance off Menifield’s mohawk, but it does not get the job done as Menifield counters him effectively to knock him back. Knight leaps ahead with a superman punch, and he pulls back with an elbow when Menifield bears down on him to tie him up. Using his full body weight to his advantage, Menifield pushes Knight heavily into the wall before transitioning into a double-leg takedown attempt. Menifield tries to pick Knight up, but he might not have enough gas in the tank to lift up the mammoth man that is “Knightmare.” Knight tries to fight his way out of the clinch, but Menifield pins him back even though Knight knees him in the body a few times. Menifield continues to grind Knight out on the wall, as if he were trying to mash him straight through the links themselves. Dean implores them to do more than lean on one another, and this prompts Menifield into action to attempt a takedown on the other side, but there is nothing there either. Dean once more tells them to work, and Menifield squeezes his opponent tightly but does little else besides pop him in the thigh with a few short shots. Right before Dean is going to intervene, Knight explodes to get out of the position, and a jump knee glances off Menifield’s head. Knight kicks high and low as he charges like a bull, and Menifield backs up and evades the brunt of the damage. Menifield jabs out a few times, and he rolls when a few huge right hands come at him. Try as he might, Knight cannot land the knockout blow he seeks, and we unexpectedly see the scorecards for the first time tonight.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Menifield (29-28 Menifield)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Menifield (29-28 Menifield)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Menifield (29-28 Menifield)

The Official Result
William Knight def. Alonzo Menifield via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Dec 1, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Alonzo Menifield

Angelo picks Menifield, citing his improved cardio from the Ed Herman fight. He notes Menifield has great takedown defense and power, while Knight has power but less technical striking. Angelo thinks the odds are wide and Menifield's cardio makes the difference.

Odds are wide
"alonzo with cardio i got to go that side that's got to be my pick i'm going against connecticut here"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Nov 30, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Alonzo Menifield

Big Brady picks Alonzo Menifield to win by first-round knockout, but he is hesitant and says he might stay away from betting this fight. He notes Menifield's power and Knight's poor striking defense (34%), but questions Menifield's cardio and trustworthiness after poor performances. He thinks if Knight can make it a grinding fight, Menifield might fade. However, he expects a finish either way and leans Menifield early.

first round knockout
"i'm going to say minifield knocks him out in the first round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 1, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Alonzo Menifield

Cody picks Menifield confidently, citing his size, power, and recent improvements. He thinks Knight is too small for the division and has poor striking and wrestling. Cody believes Menifield will knock Knight out or win a decision.

"i will be taking the favor on this spot i got alonzo metafield"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Dec 2, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Alonzo Menifield

Daniel Levi picks Alonzo Menifield to win by decision. He notes that Menifield has been pacing himself better and has a higher ceiling. He acknowledges William Knight's power and explosiveness but points out that Knight leaves his chin up and has technical flaws. He thinks Menifield can mix in takedowns and edge out a decision, though he warns that Knight can end anyone's night.

"Give me alonzo manafield to win the decision here"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Dec 1, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Alonzo Menifield

Jacob picks Menifield, emphasizing he must stay technical and not get into firefights. He notes Knight's head movement is poor and he lunges in, which could lead to a knockout. Jacob thinks Menifield should keep distance and piece Knight apart.

"i'm going alonzo too but he's just got to stay out of the firefights right"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Dec 3, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Alonzo Menifield

I lean Menifield. He is the better striker with cleaner technique and better defense. He should be able to keep the fight at distance and outpoint Knight. However, Menifield has a tendency to clinch unnecessarily and can be unreliable. I think the fight goes to decision, and Menifield by decision at plus 250 is a decent play.

Menifield by decision +250, fight goes to decision +140
"i got to give the edge to alonzo manfield here i do think he is the better with uh the hands and again i do think he could possibly lean on william knight here and possibly gas them out as …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Dec 1, 2021 (3 days before fight)
William Knight

Paul picks Knight as an underdog, citing his grappling and the possibility of slowing down Menifield. He notes that Menifield has cardio issues and that Knight could win by grinding him out. Paul is not confident but sees value at plus money.

"i'm more interested in betting the underdog william knight here at plus 130 then i am on lonzo menafield uh as the favorite"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 4, 2021 (fight day)
Alonzo Menifield

The MMA Guru picks Alonzo Menifield to win by TKO in the first round via crucifix. He expects Menifield to chop at Knight's legs from range, frustrating him, then secure a takedown and pass to side control. He compares the finish to Dan Hooker's crucifix TKO, with Menifield landing ground-and-pound from the crucifix position.

first round tko
"i'm gonna go alonzo many field crucifix tko dc versus ozdemir style"
WIN vs Fabio Cherant
KO (punches) R1 3:58 · UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Gastelum · Aug 21, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
William Knight 1 14 of 24 58% 14 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Fabio Cherant 0 15 of 23 65% 15 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 William Knight 1 14 of 24 58% 14 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Fabio Cherant 0 15 of 23 65% 15 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
William Knight 14 of 24 58% 5 of 13 1 of 1 8 of 10 11 of 21 0 of 0 3 of 3
Fabio Cherant 15 of 23 65% 3 of 11 10 of 10 2 of 2 15 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 William Knight 14 of 24 58% 5 of 13 1 of 1 8 of 10 11 of 21 0 of 0 3 of 3
Fabio Cherant 15 of 23 65% 3 of 11 10 of 10 2 of 2 15 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Aug 17, 2021 (4 days before fight)
William Knight

Big Brady picks William Knight but with very low confidence. He thinks Knight is the better striker and the fight will likely play out on the feet, but he is not high on either fighter. He notes Cherant has poor takedown defense but doesn't shoot for takedowns often. He predicts a decision win for Knight.

"i'll take william knight to win not overly confident in it but i do think he's the better striker"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 18, 2021 (3 days before fight)
William Knight

Cody leans toward Knight, citing his wrestling advantage and ability to grind out wins. He notes Knight's poor striking but believes he can take Cherant down. He acknowledges Cherant's potential but thinks Knight's experience gives him the edge.

"gun to my head right now i guess i'll go william knight the line's a lot better it's not 325 anymore"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Aug 18, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Fabio Cherant

Both fighters have limited skill sets, but Cherant has a decent submission game and I lean towards him on the feet. Knight's gas tank looked poor last time, and this fight likely goes to a decision. I prefer the over 1.5 rounds and Cherant's plus money, but I'm not confident enough to make him my dog play.

over 1.5 rounds (-150); Cherant by decision (+450)
"i'm going to go with the shron side of things again i do think that he'll do a good enough job in terms of nullifying the clinch"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Aug 18, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Fabio Cherant

Paul leans toward Cherant as a dog, noting Knight's poor striking and limited offense. He believes Cherant's footwork and striking could outpoint Knight if he avoids takedowns. He sees value in Cherant at plus money.

"i could see fabio charming a little bit quicker having better footwork and just beating the punch ever so slightly"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2021 (6 days before fight)
William Knight

The MMA Guru picks William Knight to win by TKO in the second round. He thinks Knight is faster, stronger, and more experienced against better competition. He expects both to be explosive early, but Knight will maintain pace longer and finish Cherant in the late second round as Cherant tires.

TKO in the second round
"i'm gonna go with william knight way more experienced against better competition as well i'm gonna trust william knight to get this one done and i think you'll get it done by maybe tko in the first or second round …"
LOSS vs Da Woon Jung
Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–26, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland · Apr 10, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Da Woon Jung 0 28 of 46 60% 73 of 99 8 of 9 88% 0 0 12:04
William Knight 0 17 of 29 58% 38 of 50 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:09
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Da Woon Jung 0 4 of 8 50% 16 of 20 2 of 3 66% 0 0 3:26
William Knight 0 6 of 12 50% 18 of 24 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:08
2 Da Woon Jung 0 24 of 37 64% 39 of 58 3 of 3 100% 0 0 3:56
William Knight 0 9 of 12 75% 9 of 12 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Da Woon Jung 0 0 of 1 0% 18 of 21 3 of 3 100% 0 0 4:42
William Knight 0 2 of 5 40% 11 of 14 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Da Woon Jung 28 of 46 60% 20 of 37 0 of 1 8 of 8 11 of 23 0 of 0 17 of 23
William Knight 17 of 29 58% 5 of 13 1 of 1 11 of 15 17 of 26 0 of 3 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Da Woon Jung 4 of 8 50% 1 of 4 0 of 1 3 of 3 3 of 7 0 of 0 1 of 1
William Knight 6 of 12 50% 0 of 2 0 of 0 6 of 10 6 of 11 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Da Woon Jung 24 of 37 64% 19 of 32 0 of 0 5 of 5 8 of 15 0 of 0 16 of 22
William Knight 9 of 12 75% 3 of 6 1 of 1 5 of 5 9 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Da Woon Jung 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
William Knight 2 of 5 40% 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 3 0 of 2 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Da Woon Jung

Big Brady picks Jung to win by first-round knockout. He believes Jung is the better striker with significant power, and Knight is hittable with poor striking defense (33%). Brady expects Jung to stuff Knight's takedowns and land a knockout, as Knight has been knocked out before. He notes that if Knight can grind, he could win, but the more likely scenario is a Jung KO. Brady is passing on betting due to the line movement.

"i'm going to take dongjong to win by give me a first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
William Knight

Cody picks Knight, citing his power, cardio, and ring IQ. He notes Jung's poor performance against Alvey and Knight's ability to come back from adversity. He thinks Knight's pressure and power will be too much.

"i took him plus 120 yesterday because i was like you're giving me plus 120"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Apr 9, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Da Woon Jung

Daniel Levi picks Da Woon Jung, despite his disappointing performance against Sam Alvey. He notes that Jung showed in the third round what he can do when he lets his hands go, and he has a significant height and reach advantage. Levi is concerned about William Knight leaving his chin up in the air and thinks Jung can capitalize. He is not sure about the method but picks Jung to win.

"I'm actually gonna go with dawun zhang to get this one done"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
William Knight

The host expects Knight to close the distance, clinch, and drag Jung to the ground, nullifying Jung's size and striking advantage. He notes that Knight is a dense, strong fighter with good durability, and that his grappling-heavy game plan should be effective. He picks Knight to grind out a decision victory, though he acknowledges that Jung has power and could land a knockout.

Knight by decision
"i think knight will be successful in closing a distance getting a hold of jung dragging him to the ground"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
William Knight

Paul picks Knight, calling him a 'poor man's Derrick Lewis' with power and cardio. He notes Knight's ability to get back up from takedowns and his ring IQ. He thinks Knight is a live dog.

"thick willy's a poor man's derrick lewis"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 4, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Da Woon Jung

The MMA Guru picks Da Woon Jung, citing his size advantage over the smaller William Knight. He thinks both are not technically great but Jung's reach and front kick will keep Knight at bay. He notes Jung has decent takedown defense and KO power. He predicts a 30-27 unanimous decision for Jung.

"i'm going to go with darwin young just by being a bigger guy on the feet"
WIN vs Aleksa Camur
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa · Sep 27, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
William Knight 0 38 of 54 70% 58 of 77 4 of 5 80% 1 1 6:39
Aleksa Camur 0 17 of 30 56% 59 of 72 1 of 4 25% 0 0 5:26
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 William Knight 0 9 of 15 60% 12 of 19 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:48
Aleksa Camur 0 5 of 10 50% 23 of 28 0 of 2 0% 0 0 2:34
2 William Knight 0 16 of 21 76% 21 of 26 2 of 2 100% 1 1 2:37
Aleksa Camur 0 5 of 11 45% 24 of 30 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:44
3 William Knight 0 13 of 18 72% 25 of 32 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:14
Aleksa Camur 0 7 of 9 77% 12 of 14 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:08
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
William Knight 38 of 54 70% 29 of 40 3 of 6 6 of 8 10 of 24 9 of 9 19 of 21
Aleksa Camur 17 of 30 56% 8 of 18 8 of 11 1 of 1 9 of 22 8 of 8 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 William Knight 9 of 15 60% 6 of 9 1 of 3 2 of 3 5 of 11 4 of 4 0 of 0
Aleksa Camur 5 of 10 50% 1 of 6 4 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 6 4 of 4 0 of 0
2 William Knight 16 of 21 76% 13 of 16 1 of 2 2 of 3 2 of 6 1 of 1 13 of 14
Aleksa Camur 5 of 11 45% 2 of 5 2 of 5 1 of 1 4 of 10 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 William Knight 13 of 18 72% 10 of 15 1 of 1 2 of 2 3 of 7 4 of 4 6 of 7
Aleksa Camur 7 of 9 77% 5 of 7 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 6 3 of 3 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 23, 2020 (4 days before fight)
Aleksa Camur

Big Brady picks Camur, stating he is the better fighter despite Knight's power. He notes Camur has good durability and has finished 80% of his wins. He attributes Camur's unimpressive UFC debut to octagon jitters and expects a second-round knockout.

Camur by second-round knockout
"i like camera here i'm going to pick him to win uh i'm going to say bye i'm going to say a second round knockout"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Sep 25, 2020 (2 days before fight)
William Knight

Daniel Levi picks William Knight for the upset, comparing him to a green Derrick Lewis with heart and finishing ability. He believes Knight will capitalize on Camur's inexperience and tense striking, eventually finding a finish. He notes Camur looked tense in his debut and has fought weak competition.

"i think william knight's gonna find the finish so i'm gonna take him here for the upset shaq"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Sep 26, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Aleksa Camur

The host leans toward Aleksa Camur but is not confident, calling the fight a pass. He notes that Camur has a better training camp and may be more active, but both fighters are green with many unknowns. He suggests the over 1.5 rounds is the best bet, as both may feel each other out.

over 1.5 rounds (-125)
"I'll go with kamore to win this by decision... but the over one and a half is probably the best spot and again i'm just passing on it."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 20, 2020 (7 days before fight)
Aleksa Camur

The MMA Guru picks Aleksa Camur, citing his training at Staphae Meochit, youth (24), and good striking defense. He believes Camur will survive the first round and then KO William Knight in the first round with a counterpunch. He notes Knight is past his prime and has not faced high-level competition.

Win by KO in round 1
"i think he's going to go out there and ko william knight in the first round"
Fabio Cherant - Fight History
LOSS vs Carlos Ulberg
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 271: Adesanya vs. Whittaker 2 · Feb 12, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Carlos Ulberg 0 66 of 112 58% 71 of 117 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:15
Fabio Cherant 0 13 of 41 31% 13 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:22
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Carlos Ulberg 0 19 of 33 57% 22 of 36 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:31
Fabio Cherant 0 4 of 15 26% 4 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:22
2 Carlos Ulberg 0 27 of 41 65% 27 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Fabio Cherant 0 7 of 15 46% 7 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Carlos Ulberg 0 20 of 38 52% 22 of 40 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:44
Fabio Cherant 0 2 of 11 18% 2 of 11 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Carlos Ulberg 66 of 112 58% 25 of 66 15 of 19 26 of 27 66 of 111 0 of 0 0 of 1
Fabio Cherant 13 of 41 31% 7 of 30 6 of 10 0 of 1 13 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Carlos Ulberg 19 of 33 57% 8 of 21 3 of 3 8 of 9 19 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 1
Fabio Cherant 4 of 15 26% 3 of 12 1 of 3 0 of 0 4 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Carlos Ulberg 27 of 41 65% 13 of 25 5 of 7 9 of 9 27 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 0
Fabio Cherant 7 of 15 46% 2 of 8 5 of 6 0 of 1 7 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Carlos Ulberg 20 of 38 52% 4 of 20 7 of 9 9 of 9 20 of 38 0 of 0 0 of 0
Fabio Cherant 2 of 11 18% 2 of 10 0 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Feb 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Carlos Ulberg

Angelo leans toward Ulberg because of his world-class kickboxing, but warns not to overvalue his credentials given his lack of MMA experience. He notes that Cherant is better than his UFC record suggests, with solid power and a decent chin. He thinks Ulberg will win but it's not a guarantee, as Cherant could pull something out.

"i am gonna lean carlos ulberg here but let's not put so much stock into his kickboxing credentials and just ignore the fact that he doesn't really have a lot of mma experience"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lock picked Feb 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Carlos Ulberg

Big Brady is extremely confident in Ulberg, calling it one of his most confident picks. He praises Ulberg's kickboxing background and pace, noting he landed 146 significant strikes in 8 minutes in his debut. He criticizes Cherant's performance against Alexa Camur, where he was outlanded 44-7 and attempted zero takedowns. Brady believes Cherant is a submission artist who doesn't shoot takedowns, making this a nightmare matchup. He predicts Ulberg will finish Cherant in the first round by KO.

Ulberg by first round KO
"this is honestly probably one of my most confident picks of the week"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Feb 9, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Carlos Ulberg

Cody leans Ulberg but is hesitant due to the price and unknowns. He notes Ulberg has a size advantage and better striking, but his cardio and experience are question marks. He thinks Cherant could pull the upset if he uses takedowns.

"i would lean towards a pass but again you know prps full card predictions which is what we do uh yeah i guess i would have to go ulberg"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Feb 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Carlos Ulberg

Daniel Levi picks Carlos Ulberg to win by knockout. He criticizes Fabio Cherant's inactivity and mental issues, stating he is not ready for this level. Levi notes that Ulberg has high-level kickboxing and trains with the right people. He bet Ulberg at -200 and expects a highlight-reel knockout.

bet at -200
"i think oldberg is going to light this man up get a highlight reel knockout"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Feb 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Carlos Ulberg

Ulberg has a significant height and reach advantage and should be able to snipe Cherant from distance. Cherant has poor reactions to getting hit, as seen in the William Knight fight. Ulberg's cardio is a concern after his debut, but Cherant is not a high-pressure wrestler. The line is too wide for a bet, but Ulberg should win by first-round KO.

Ulberg by KO in round 1 or early round 2; interested in KO prop if plus money
"i think albert gets it done uh not too high up on this matchup myself so uh in terms of official prediction let's go with carlos allberg and i'll take him to win this fight by first round knockout"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Feb 9, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Carlos Ulberg

Paul picks Ulberg but is wary of the price. He notes Ulberg has better striking and should be more tactical after his wild debut. He thinks Cherant's chin is compromised and Ulberg can knock him out, but acknowledges the unknowns.

under 1.5 rounds -145
"i think he gets the job done i think they have a little bit more of a tactical approach this time around"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Carlos Ulberg

The MMA Guru picks Carlos Ulberg by first-round TKO, citing his striking advantage and Cherant's poor chin and grappling. He expects Ulberg to chop at the legs and catch Cherant coming in.

first round tko
"i'm going to go with carlos albert here i think he gets this one done by first round tko"
LOSS vs William Knight
KO (punches) R1 3:58 · UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Gastelum · Aug 21, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
William Knight 1 14 of 24 58% 14 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Fabio Cherant 0 15 of 23 65% 15 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 William Knight 1 14 of 24 58% 14 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Fabio Cherant 0 15 of 23 65% 15 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
William Knight 14 of 24 58% 5 of 13 1 of 1 8 of 10 11 of 21 0 of 0 3 of 3
Fabio Cherant 15 of 23 65% 3 of 11 10 of 10 2 of 2 15 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 William Knight 14 of 24 58% 5 of 13 1 of 1 8 of 10 11 of 21 0 of 0 3 of 3
Fabio Cherant 15 of 23 65% 3 of 11 10 of 10 2 of 2 15 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Aug 17, 2021 (4 days before fight)
William Knight

Big Brady picks William Knight but with very low confidence. He thinks Knight is the better striker and the fight will likely play out on the feet, but he is not high on either fighter. He notes Cherant has poor takedown defense but doesn't shoot for takedowns often. He predicts a decision win for Knight.

"i'll take william knight to win not overly confident in it but i do think he's the better striker"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 18, 2021 (3 days before fight)
William Knight

Cody leans toward Knight, citing his wrestling advantage and ability to grind out wins. He notes Knight's poor striking but believes he can take Cherant down. He acknowledges Cherant's potential but thinks Knight's experience gives him the edge.

"gun to my head right now i guess i'll go william knight the line's a lot better it's not 325 anymore"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Aug 18, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Fabio Cherant

Both fighters have limited skill sets, but Cherant has a decent submission game and I lean towards him on the feet. Knight's gas tank looked poor last time, and this fight likely goes to a decision. I prefer the over 1.5 rounds and Cherant's plus money, but I'm not confident enough to make him my dog play.

over 1.5 rounds (-150); Cherant by decision (+450)
"i'm going to go with the shron side of things again i do think that he'll do a good enough job in terms of nullifying the clinch"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Aug 18, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Fabio Cherant

Paul leans toward Cherant as a dog, noting Knight's poor striking and limited offense. He believes Cherant's footwork and striking could outpoint Knight if he avoids takedowns. He sees value in Cherant at plus money.

"i could see fabio charming a little bit quicker having better footwork and just beating the punch ever so slightly"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2021 (6 days before fight)
William Knight

The MMA Guru picks William Knight to win by TKO in the second round. He thinks Knight is faster, stronger, and more experienced against better competition. He expects both to be explosive early, but Knight will maintain pace longer and finish Cherant in the late second round as Cherant tires.

TKO in the second round
"i'm gonna go with william knight way more experienced against better competition as well i'm gonna trust william knight to get this one done and i think you'll get it done by maybe tko in the first or second round …"
Submission (shoulder choke) R1 1:11 · UFC 260: Miocic vs. Ngannou 2 · Mar 27, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Alonzo Menifield 0 3 of 3 100% 3 of 3 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:07
Fabio Cherant 0 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Alonzo Menifield 0 3 of 3 100% 3 of 3 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:07
Fabio Cherant 0 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Alonzo Menifield 3 of 3 100% 3 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Fabio Cherant 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Alonzo Menifield 3 of 3 100% 3 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Fabio Cherant 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Alonzo Menifield vs. Fabio Cherant (206.5: Missed Weight)

Round 1
On extremely short notice, Menifield (9-2, 2-2 UFC) has experienced a drastic change of opponent, going from a powerful striker to a savvy grappler in “The Water Buffalo” Cherant (7-1, 0-0 UFC). The newcomer, on a few days’ notice, missed weight by half a pound; Menifield is still grateful for the opportunity to fight on this card, and he thanks his foe with a glove touch in front of referee Herb Dean. Menifield comes out like his hair is on fire, blasting Cherant with a left hand and bouncing the UFC debutant against the fence. Cherant defends with a guillotine choke, so Menifield lifts him up and loudly slams him down.
Cherant continues to defend with the guillotine off his back, and he is immediately in grave danger from the Von Flue (Von Preux) shoulder choke as Menifield uses his full body weight to press down on his opponent. Perhaps learning from his most recent opponent (Ovince St. Preux), Menifield crushes down with his shoulder pressure, and Cherant is forced to tap out for the first time in his career.
We now have our first early finish of the night, and Menifield’s 100 percent finish rate in victory is still intact.

The Official Result
Alonzo Menifield def. Fabio Cherant R1 1:11 via Submission (Shoulder Choke)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 24, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Alonzo Menifield

Big Brady picks Alonzo Menifield to win by first-round knockout. He believes Menifield's takedown defense (85%) will prevent Knight from grappling, and on the feet Menifield has the power to knock Knight out. He notes Knight's poor striking defense (33%) and that Knight has been knocked out before. However, he admits he is not fully confident due to Menifield's two-fight losing streak and cardio concerns.

Menifield by KO round 1
"i like menifield in this fight ... i actually do think he knocks out night here in that first round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 24, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Alonzo Menifield

Cody picks Menifield, noting that Cherant is a late notice replacement who may struggle with the weight cut. He thinks Menifield is too strong and physical, and that Cherant's best chance is to take the fight to later rounds, but Menifield's takedown defense is good early. He is not overthinking it.

"manifield is the pick yeah yeah i'm not gonna overthink it"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Mar 23, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Alonzo Menifield

Daniel Levi picks Alonzo Menifield to get back on track against Fabio Cherant. He notes that Menifield has been overrated and his confidence is low after losses, but this is a step down in competition. Levi criticizes Cherant's striking holes and head positioning in the clinch. He believes Menifield can capitalize early and knock Cherant out, though he acknowledges Cherant's toughness and cardio advantage.

"i'm gonna go with minifield to get back on track i think this is a step down in competition for him"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Mar 24, 2021 (3 days before fight)

The host picks William Knight to win by decision. He notes that Knight has better cardio, durability, and clinch work, and that Menifield is 'knockout or bust' after losing two straight. He expects the fight to be a clinch-heavy grind, similar to Knight's fight against Alex Caceres. He is skeptical about Knight's ability to get takedowns but thinks Menifield's lack of a plan B will be his downfall. He suggests looking at the over 1.5 rounds or 'fight goes to decision' prop.

Over 1.5 rounds; fight goes to decision
"I'll go with william knight to win this fight via decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 24, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Alonzo Menifield

Paul picks Menifield, agreeing that Cherant's short notice and potential weight cut issues are red flags. He notes that Menifield is physically strong and has good takedown defense early. He thinks Cherant is a submission guy who will struggle to get the fight to the ground, and Menifield's power should be enough.

"i would say alonzo menofield comes in good shape he knows his back's up against the wall"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Fabio Cherant

The Guru picks William Knight (originally scheduled opponent) but the fight is now Menifield vs Cherant. He discusses Knight vs Menifield, picking Knight by 29-28 decision. He notes Knight's power lasts longer into later rounds, while Menifield fades and gets reckless. He expects a firefight in the first round, but Knight's patience and grappling will secure rounds two and three. He mentions Menifield coming off a KO loss to OSP, which affects his confidence.

"i'm gonna go with william knight getting the job done here"
Expert Picks (5)
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Aug 17, 2021 (4 days before fight)
William Knight

Big Brady picks William Knight but with very low confidence. He thinks Knight is the better striker and the fight will likely play out on the feet, but he is not high on either fighter. He notes Cherant has poor takedown defense but doesn't shoot for takedowns often. He predicts a decision win for Knight.

"i'll take william knight to win not overly confident in it but i do think he's the better striker"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 18, 2021 (3 days before fight)
William Knight

Cody leans toward Knight, citing his wrestling advantage and ability to grind out wins. He notes Knight's poor striking but believes he can take Cherant down. He acknowledges Cherant's potential but thinks Knight's experience gives him the edge.

"gun to my head right now i guess i'll go william knight the line's a lot better it's not 325 anymore"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Aug 18, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Fabio Cherant

Both fighters have limited skill sets, but Cherant has a decent submission game and I lean towards him on the feet. Knight's gas tank looked poor last time, and this fight likely goes to a decision. I prefer the over 1.5 rounds and Cherant's plus money, but I'm not confident enough to make him my dog play.

over 1.5 rounds (-150); Cherant by decision (+450)
"i'm going to go with the shron side of things again i do think that he'll do a good enough job in terms of nullifying the clinch"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Aug 18, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Fabio Cherant

Paul leans toward Cherant as a dog, noting Knight's poor striking and limited offense. He believes Cherant's footwork and striking could outpoint Knight if he avoids takedowns. He sees value in Cherant at plus money.

"i could see fabio charming a little bit quicker having better footwork and just beating the punch ever so slightly"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2021 (6 days before fight)
William Knight

The MMA Guru picks William Knight to win by TKO in the second round. He thinks Knight is faster, stronger, and more experienced against better competition. He expects both to be explosive early, but Knight will maintain pace longer and finish Cherant in the late second round as Cherant tires.

TKO in the second round
"i'm gonna go with william knight way more experienced against better competition as well i'm gonna trust william knight to get this one done and i think you'll get it done by maybe tko in the first or second round i'll say second round tko"