MMA DFS and Betting Breakdown: UFC Fight Night - Cejudo vs. Song

by Liam Heslin (LiamPicksFights) Last Updated 2025-02-22 18:18:11 Premium Content Part of the product MMA Premium

Liam Heslin (aka LiamPicksFights) is a massive combat sports fan with over a decade of experience competing in wrestling and grappling martial arts. For each UFC event, he produces the MMA DFS and sports betting breakdown for RotoGrinders.

It has been twelve years since the octagon touched down in Seattle, Washington, but they are back in force with a former UFC Champion in Henry Cejudo seeking a redemptive win against a talented, younger foe in Song Yadong. Outside the main event, there are some short-notice replacements and moving pieces to this card, but the matchups we are left with have some interesting young talents, some savvy veterans, and some debutants looking to make a strong first impression. There are twelve fights on the slate, with a strong five-fight main card.

Note: All DFS salaries listed are from DraftKings & all odds quoted are from FanDuel Sportsbook.

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MMA DFS and Betting Breakdown: UFC Fight Night – Cejudo vs. Song

Alonzo Menifield ($8,700) vs. Julius Walker ($7,500)

Fight Odds: -250 Menifield vs. +198 Walker
Weight Class: 205lb. (Light Heavyweight)

This is a volatile light heavyweight contest between a struggling UFC veteran who appears to be on the downswing of his run with the promotion in the form of “Atomic” Alonzo Menifield (8-5-1 UFC) and a green younger fighter with a big frame for the division in the form of UFC debutant “Juice Box” Julius Walker (6-0 Pro). At his best, Julius Walker is a clever, aggressive grappler who can push a high pace, win scrambles, and overwhelm his opponents. He has never seen the judges’ scorecards as a professional, but he fought to decision four times in ten amateur bouts. Walker has stopped four opponents with strikes, including experienced regional journeyman Myron Dennis (20-12) and former UFC fighter Bevon Lewis (1-3 UFC), so he has earned a step up in competition, but he will need to fight in a measured way to avoid catastrophe.

Alonzo Menifield is in desperate need of a bounce-back, win as the 37 year old is staring down the barrel of a two-fight losing streak, with both losses coming by way of KO/TKO in the first two frames. His cardio is not great, his output is unreliable, and he has been stopped with strikes three times. Menifield is just 2-2 in fights that go to decision, his quality of competition has aged poorly, and he looks like he would rather be anywhere else than on the scales. The cherry on top is he has lost three times as a UFC favorite.

There is no way I would trust Menifield at these prices, but he does have upside if he is able to take Walker down and hold him down because Menifield is a big body with a decent top game. This fight is likely to be fantasy relevant unless Walker gets pinned to the fence all night, because he pushes a high pace in his fights, he tries to force grappling exchanges, and he has been badly hurt before in his regional fights, so either man could get knocked out early. Menifield has been outlanded in 7 of his 14 UFC fights, so give me the young and hungry Walker to spring the upset in his UFC debut after a wild first round.

Prediction: Julius Walker defeats Alonzo Menifield via Stoppage Rd. 1/2

Jean Silva ($9,500) vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan ($6,700)