Ed Herman vs. Alonzo Menifield

Round 1
In a sharp contrast to the expectations – and not the impressive result – of the prior bout, the overwhelming belief is that this light heavyweight clash between powerful finisher Menifield (10-2, 3-2 UFC) and savvy, streaking veteran Herman (26-14, 1 NC; 13-11, 1 NC UFC) will end quickly. The betting line for this fight ending inside the distance is the highest on the card at -285. Holding on tight will be referee Kerry Hatley, as this one could end at any minute. There is still a sign of sportsmanship as they touch gloves before trying to take the other’s head off, and Menifield quickly hammers Herman’s leg with a kick. He just misses with a right hand, and Herman dodges and misses a counter. Menifield tries again to throw a bomb of a right hand, and Herman sees it coming and evades it more smoothly this time. Menifield goes after another calf kick, and Herman tries to catch it but cannot grab it. Herman strides forward and gets caught on the way in with a short left hand, and Menifield tries to follow it up with a left hand and a nuclear missile of a right hand but the latter does not connect. Menifield gets off a jab, and he chains one to the body shortly after. Herman sneaks up a check left hook that cuts Menifield, and Menifield suddenly holds his hand high to protect his eye. Herman reaches him with a left hand and Menifield backs off, with the booming shots not coming like before. The head movement from Menifield allows him to avoid a strike over the top, and he wings a hook that blows Herman’s head back. A power jab from Menifield drills into the nose of Herman, and he lands a few more as Herman touches his nose every time one lands. Herman looks to counter him with the left hand, as he knows Menifield is suddenly cautious of these strikes. “Atomic Alonzo” kicks the lead leg and makes Herman turn about, but he does not follow it and instead backs off to absorb a kick from Herman. Menifield sits down on a leg kick and makes Herman turn again, and Herman is now preemptively picking his leg up. Herman takes another and does one more pirouette, and Herman is walking strangely on it as it begins to swell up. Menifield blasts Herman in the face with a left hand, but the Oregon native walks through everything that Menifield throws at him. Both men land single blows, and Herman gives chase but hits nothing but air. Herman tries to lift his leg up from a kick, and he turns his back and lets Menifield land a right hand on him before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Menifield
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Menifield
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Menifield

Round 2
The light heavyweights elect to touch gloves to come out for the round, and Herman rushes to attack. Menifield counters him on the way in, and stops Herman from plodding towards him in another barrage. Herman falls forward and gets clipped with a right hand, and he stumbles but keeps his wits about him. Menifield lands a one-two right on the forehead, and he snaps out a jab that Herman ignores. Herman tries to get off a kick as Menifield wings one at him, and he lifts his leg when Menifield advances and goes right into a right hand. Menifield throws so hard he falls over, and he gives up his back and is suddenly in trouble. Herman takes his back and goes after a choke, but Menifield bursts and stands back up. Herman takes a right hand and may be hurt, so Menifield attacks him and starts wailing away at him with punches. Herman falls into the cage, and he shells up as Menifield lands a long stream of punches and standing hammerfists. Herman blocks most of them but takes a few uppercuts, and he tries to throw back but is met with a looping right hand. Herman tags Menifield with an uppercut, and suddenly Menifield backs off and needs to gather his thoughts. Herman walks face-first into several jabs and right hands, and other than a cut on the bridge of his nose, he appears no worse for wear. His opponent starts to slow, throwing more telegraphed punches at odd angles. Herman charges and absorbs a thunderous leg kick, and Herman can barely stand up as it is so compromised. Herman is forced to switch stances as Menifield stands in front of him, with Herman slowly backing off and blocking when Menifield comes at him with a right hand. Menifield rushes in head-first and tries to sling a right hand over the top, and Herman just misses with an uppercut to respond. Herman whiffs on a right hand, and Menifield kicks his leg out beneath him and forces Herman down to the ground on his face. Herman gets up as the horn sounds, and he struggles as he limps back to his corner.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Menifield
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Menifield
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Menifield

Round 3
Herman is good to go to keep fighting, and the swelling is enormous on his shin as he can barely put weight on it. The doctor checks on it, squeezes the area, and determines that there are no broken bones. Herman nods when Hatley tells him he can’t fall victim to many more kicks, and the fight continues. Menifield comes out swinging, bullrushing Herman and tackling the longtime vet to his back. Menifield climbs into side control as he slugs Herman in the face repeatedly, and Hatley pays close attention but no stoppage materializes. Menifield backs off to let Herman stand, and although labored, Herman is able to get up. Herman keeps his distance, barely able to stand up at all, and he tries to chamber a right hand but Menifield tees off on him without concern. Herman takes an uppercut on the chin and he wobbles, and together with the busted leg and the blow, he is forced to bounce off the cage to stay upright. “Short Fuse” thinks about moving back to orthodox but he does not want to present the battered leg, and he wings a huge right hand. Menifield eats it like a steak and throws right back, with Herman shaking his head but not budging. Herman flails with a few right hands as the crowd starts to voice its disapproval with how the bout has slowed significantly, and Herman tries to stay active but hits air again and again. Menifield fires off a right hand that collides with Herman’s guard, but it is one-and-done as he is content to just chase Herman around the cage. Menifield slowly walks forward without throwing anything, and he suddenly ducks down and snaps Herman’s head back with a right hand. Herman’s chin cannot be questioned as he takes it without so much as a flinch, and he takes two punches on the chin as he walks forward. Menifield leans forward to throw bombs, and Herman closes in to counter, with the range not allowing either to land flush. Herman dodges a huge right hand to counter Menifield with a right hand, and he sits down on a pair of punches that Menifield shrugs off. Menifield attacks the other leg, allowing Herman to sting him with a punch. Herman walks through a jab to give chase, and the bout shockingly ends from the horn when a full 15 minutes have elapsed. It may be fitting in a night like tonight that the fight most expected to end by decision saw a first-round finish, and the fight most expected to end violently went the distance.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Menifield (30-27 Menifield)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Menifield (30-27 Menifield)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Menifield (30-27 Menifield)

The Official Result
Alonzo Menifield def. Ed Herman via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)