Alonzo Menifield and Jimmy Crute opened the main card for UFC 284 in a light heavyweight banger. The fight was a thrilling back-and-forth affair that went the full 15-minute distance.
In the end, the fight was declared a majority draw as the three judges scored the fight 29-27, 28-28, and 28-28. The outcome might have been different if not for a point deduction.
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In the third round of the fight, Crute held Menifield against the fence and attempted a takedown. In order to stay on his feet, 'Atomic' grabbed the fence which caused referee Marc Goddard to intervene. The referee separated the two and deducted a point from Menifield for the illegal fence-grab.
In the post-fight octagon interview with Michael Bisping, Crute expressed disappointment at the result and suggested a rematch between the two light heavyweights:
"Man, obviously I'm disappointed. I wanted to come here and win. Alonzo really surprised me with his range and his speed. Really didn't expect that but all I could think while I was in there was, 'this guy hits hard'... I was hurt but I never didn't know where I was. It was more his speed than anything that surprised me. Well done, brother... We're gonnna run it back."
Menifield echoed Crute's sentiment of a rematch during his time on the microphone.
Watch Jimmy Crute and Alonzo Menifield's post-fight octagon interview below:
Apart from fence-grabbing, several other moves are banned in the UFC and can lead to point deductions or even disqualifications in a fight. Some of the most common moves that attract a point deduction include eye poking and groin strikes.
Illegal moves like headbutts and knees/kicks on a downed opponent are also seen from time to time inside the octagon.
Moves like fish hooking, punches to the back of the head, piledriving, hair pulling, and 12-to-6 elbows are also banned in the UFC.
Twitter reacts to Alonzo Menifield vs. Jimmy Crute at UFC 284
Alonzo Menifield and Jimmy Crute blew the roof off the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, and delivered an electrifying three-round contest for MMA fans around the world.
MMA fans and personalities took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the UFC 284 main card opener.
Journalist Nolan King praised the two fighters for their display of grit in the fight.
John Morgan stated that according to him, the point deduction was a fair move by Marc Goddard.
One Twitter user had something different to say as he criticized the two light heavyweights for their cardio.
A few more tweets on the Alonzo Menifield vs. Jimmy Crute fight can be seen below: