Alonzo Menifield and Jimmy Crute started off UFC 284’s main card with a barnburner. Their 3-round bout was a high-paced and brutal affair. However, the match’s result was affected by a point deduction for Alonzo Menifield.
During the initial minutes, Alonzo caught Crute with a couple of good shots on the feet. To combat this, Jimmy tried to use his wrestling. However, this meant Crute also burned out his gas tank very early into the fight. And from there, every time he tried to clinch or take down Menifield, things did not go well for the Australian.
Crute was knocked down twice during the fight and absorbed a lot of punishment. Even the commentators, at one point, were left asking how much more he could take. However, Crute began mounting a comeback in the third as Menifield was tired. Crute’s wrestling began to affect his opponent. However, during one exchange, when the Australian fighter had Menifield up against the fence, Alonzo grabbed it to deny Crute’s takedown attempt.
Jimmy Crute/Alonzo Menifield Scorecards#UFC284 pic.twitter.com/NZLmsojLDj
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) February 12, 2023
This forced referee Marc Goddard to pause the fight and deduct one point from Menifield. And it affected the bout’s result which was announced as a majority draw. Had Menifeld not grabbed the fence, he probably would’ve won a majority decision. However, this instant classic has been sullied by a wrong decision on the 35-year-old’s part.
Fans react to Jimmy Crute vs Alonzo Menifield ending in a draw
Due to how the fight ended, Crute, in his post-fight interview, apologized to his Australian fans, who were clearly upset when the decision was announced. He told them, “Obviously, I’m disappointed. All I can think while I was in there was this guy hits hard. I was hurt but never didn’t know where I was.”
Crute told fans that he would gladly run it back with Menifield if given the opportunity. His opponent echoed his sentiment, saying, “Let’s do it again, me and him.” Despite the fans in attendance being forgiving towards their hometown fighter, fans at home weren’t as accommodating. Twitter lit up with angry fans who questioned the way the fight was scored.
WHAT BS! A DRAW?!?! Unreal verdict.
— Bettz Now (@BettzNow) February 12, 2023
– Jimmy Crute (-170): DRAW 🤦♂️#UFC284 #PositiveVibesOnly #PreSuperBowlhttps://t.co/rehb1ZMvaR
Don’t know how that fight made it to the judges decision, looked like there were multiple chances for the fights to be ended. Honestly thought Jimmy Crute done enough to win, but a draw is maybe a fair result. #UFC284 #UFC https://t.co/dNfXe4TarR
— 丂ㄒ乇ᐯ乇几 (@StevenPayne89) February 12, 2023
A draw is never a satisfying conclusion to a fight. Especially one as entertaining as the one between Menifield and Crute. However, the unsatisfactory resolution will also build anticipation for an eventual rematch which should be just as, if not more entertaining.
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