UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2 kicks off the main card with a fight between Alonzo Menifield and Iwo Baraniewski in the light heavyweight division. Check out our UFC 331 odds series for our Menifield-Baraniewski prediction and pick.

Iwo Baraniewski (9-0) remains undefeated and has finished every opponent he has faced. He stopped Junior Tafa with first-round leg kicks and punches in June, following a 28-second TKO of Austen Lane in March, as he comes into his fight this weekend against Alonzo Menifield.

Alonzo Menifield (18-6-1,) enters UFC 331 off a first-round TKO win over Zhang Mingyang in May, a performance that followed his November knockout loss to Volkan Oezdemir. The veteran has won three of his last four, with 10 career knockouts, as he comes into his fight this weekend against Iwo Baraniewski.

UFC 331 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.

UFC 331 Odds: Alonzo Menifield-Iwo Baraniewski

Alonzo Menifield: +200

Iwo Baraniewski: -245

Over 1.5 rounds: +195

Under 1.5 rounds: -260

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Why Alonzo Menifield Will Win

Iwo Baraniewski is the fresher, faster-rising fighter, carrying a perfect 9-0 record with nine finishes into the biggest test of his career. His first three UFC appearances have all ended in the opening round, most recently a 1:25 knockout of Junior Tafa in June.

That early finishing ability is crucial against Menifield, whose aggressive bursts can leave him exposed in exchanges. Baraniewski’s clean combinations, willingness to attack the legs, and confidence throwing in transition make him dangerous whenever Menifield loads up on power shots.

Menifield remains a proven veteran, but he is 38 and has shown defensive lapses when fights become chaotic. Baraniewski is 27, unbeaten, and has yet to show the hesitation that often appears when prospects face their first major step up.

Baraniewski should use leg kicks and quick straight punches to disrupt Menifield’s timing, then capitalize when the veteran presses forward impatiently. If he fights with controlled aggression instead of chasing a wild knockout, the Polish contender has the speed, youth, and finishing instincts to score another early stoppage.

Why Iwo Baraniewski Will Win

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Alonzo Menifield brings a major experience edge, owning 25 professional fights and more than a decade of MMA experience compared with Baraniewski’s nine-bout career. He has already faced established UFC names and enters off a first-round knockout of Zhang Mingyang, proving his power remains dangerous at 38.

The physical matchup also favors Menifield in key areas. Both stand 6-foot-0, but Menifield owns a three-inch reach advantage at 76 inches and has spent far more time in prolonged UFC fights, averaging 7:24 per bout compared with Baraniewski’s 56 seconds.

That extra cage time matters because Baraniewski’s remarkable 9-0 start has produced no extended fights. If Menifield survives the Polish prospect’s early blitz, he can drag him into unfamiliar later rounds and test his conditioning, composure, and ability to adjust under real pressure.

Menifield also offers a more developed wrestling layer, averaging 0.48 takedowns per 15 minutes with 78% takedown defense. Baraniewski has not recorded a UFC takedown, so Menifield can use clinches, cage pressure, and level changes to disrupt the newcomer’s striking flow.

Baraniewski is explosive, but Menifield has 10 UFC knockout victories, three submissions, and 10 first-round finishes himself. If he keeps a high guard, works patiently through the opening danger, and leans on his veteran poise, Menifield has a strong route to a late TKO or competitive decision.

Final Alonzo Menifield-Iwo Baraniewski Prediction & Pick

Iwo Baraniewski is the deserved favorite, but this is the first true gut-check of his unbeaten career. The Polish finisher is 9-0 with nine stoppages, yet his average fight time is just 56 seconds, while Menifield has the veteran experience to make him work beyond the opening burst.

Menifield’s right hand and clinch pressure make him live throughout the fight, particularly if he can survive the opening minute. But Baraniewski’s speed, confidence, and clean combination punching should give him the early initiative against a veteran who has been stopped before.

Markets place Baraniewski around a 66–68% favorite, with Menifield near 33–34%, reflecting the prospect’s momentum but also leaving room for a real upset. The key is whether Iwo stays composed rather than hunting an instant finish after his first few attacks.

Expect Baraniewski to attack Menifield’s legs, force rushed exchanges, and land the cleaner shots in the first round as Iwo Baraniewski extends his unbeaten streak to 10 wins vai first-round TKO, though Menifield’s experience makes this far more dangerous than the odds suggest.

Final Alonzo Menifield-Iwo Baraniewski Prediction & Pick: Iwo Baraniewski (-245), UNDER 1.5 Rounds (-260)