UFC Seattle: Julius Walker

Image credits: USA Today Sports/MMA Junkie

Julius Walker, also known as "Juice Box," is set to make his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut against Alonzo Menifield at UFC Seattle. Walker, who is undefeated with a 6-0 record, will face off against the No. 15-ranked Menifield in the main card opener at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. The fight is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 22, 2025.

During UFC Seattle media day, Walker explained the origin of his nickname "Juice Box." He stated that his college basketball coach, Steve Hesser, started calling him "juice" when he was a freshman, due to his resemblance to a young O.J. Simpson. Walker's teammates later added "box" to the nickname, and he decided to stick with "Juice Box" when he began his fighting career. Walker is looking to make a statement in his UFC debut, and his unbeaten record and 100 percent finish rate make him a formidable opponent.

Walker's opponent, Alonzo Menifield, is a seasoned fighter with a record of 15-5-1 in the UFC. Menifield has suffered knockout losses in his last two UFC bouts, and Walker will be looking to add him to his highlight reel. The odds for the fight have Walker as a +200 underdog, while Menifield is favored at -245. However, Walker is not intimidated by the odds and is confident in his abilities. He stated that he thought the odds would be more lopsided, given his limited experience in the UFC.

The UFC Seattle event will feature a number of exciting matchups, including a bantamweight bout between Henry Cejudo and Yadong Song. The event will be broadcast on ESPN+, with the preliminary matches starting at 6 p.m. ET and the main card beginning at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can also follow the action on MMAmania.com, which will provide live round-by-round coverage of the event. The light heavyweight division is one of the shallower divisions in the UFC, and Walker's debut against a ranked opponent is a testament to the lack of depth in the division.

Here are the details for the UFC Seattle event:

• Event: UFC Seattle
• Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025
• Location: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington
• Main Card:
• Henry Cejudo vs. Yadong Song
• Julius Walker vs. Alonzo Menifield
• Preliminary Matches:
• Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez