A standout among several newcomers supporting the UFC Seattle card is Julius Walker, booked into a short-notice debut opposite Alonzo Menifield at light heavyweight. The promotion’s return to Seattle after a 10+ year absence is headlined by former double-champ Henry Cejudo, facing off with Song Yadong.
Julius “Juice Box” Walker
Standing at six-foot-four
Fighting at 205 lbs (light-heavyweight)
25-years-old
Springfield, Missouri, US
Training out of Team Fusion
A pro record of 6-0
4 KO/TKOs, 2 Submission’s
How Walker will Fare in the UFC
The harsh reality of the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions is that they’re often filled with undisciplined fighters. Some are skilled, but their conditioning and physique don’t match their abilities. That’s not the case with Walker. While he has competed at heavyweight and didn’t always look as lean, he did so to stay active. What sets Walker apart is his athleticism, stemming from his basketball background. Even at heavyweight, he has the ability to defeat larger opponents purely based on his athleticism.
Walker’s foundation is in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but to reach that level, a strong wrestling base is essential—and he has it. He employs a variety of grappling techniques, excelling in cage wrestling. He effectively uses over-under and double-underhooks to trap a knee and secure trips. Additionally, he’s adept at level changes, executing double-leg takedowns with ease. His fight against Nyles Bartling showcased his abilities. Bartling, a former top heavyweight prospect, entered TUF 30 with an undefeated record (6-0 as a pro, 5-0 as an amateur). A strong wrestler with natural “farmer strength,” Bartling managed to take Walker down multiple times and put him in difficult positions. However, Walker remained active, constantly working to improve position. His scrambling ability and jiu-jitsu were impressive, utilizing double underhooks to stand up and the kimura to create scrambles. He displayed composure and secured a beautiful submission victory.
Walker’s striking remains a work in progress. While he doesn’t have glaring weaknesses, he hasn’t spent much time on the feet in fights. From what he has shown, he possesses power, a solid one-two combination, and strength in the clinch. In his last fight, he was badly rocked but recovered within minutes, securing a takedown and finishing with ground-and-pound. His combination of wrestling, athleticism, and jiu-jitsu gives him a bright future.
How He Matches Up with Menifield
Now, Julius Walker faces his biggest test yet against UFC veteran Alonzo Menifield, a 14-fight veteran. It’s a fight Walker is capable of winning, but it won’t be easy. Menifield, at 37, is coming off two knockout losses, but he has never been defeated due to his ground game. That’s where Walker will need to take the fight—he likely won’t stop Menifield on the feet, but he has a real chance of finishing him on the ground. The key will be doing it early. There are still too many unknowns about Walker to be fully confident in his chances, and Menifield has the power to test Walker’s chin and durability. Ultimately, the safer pick is Menifield, as he has the ability to keep the fight standing and land damage.
