He blew through Tuco Tokkos in his promotional debut after mauling a pair of UFC veterans in his final two regional appearances, but then had to work a little harder and a little longer in his homecoming win over Da Woon Jung in Paris last September. While it didn’t measure up to the lofty expectations folks held for his performance, the reality is that putting in 15 minutes against an experienced foe like the South Korean is far more valuable to Sy than landing a clubbing blow in the opening round and getting out of there in a hurry.
This weekend, the 29-year-old steps in with Fortis MMA representative Alonzo Menifield, who returned to the Dallas outpost ahead of his last fight before returning to the win column with a split decision win over Julius Walker in Seattle. A member of the DWCS Class of ’18, Menifield has made the walk to the Octagon on 15 occasions, amassing a 9-5-1 record under the UFC banner, while currently holding down the final place in the Top 15.
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Without question, this is Sy’s toughest test to date and a solid step up in competition after successfully navigating his Paris assignment opposite Jung. The light heavyweight veteran possesses an uncanny combination of power and speed, which can be overwhelming, especially right out of the chute, but if Sy can continue handling his business the way he has thus far, he could find himself sporting a number next to his name after this event.
The road to contention in the 205-pound ranks is always less congested than it is in other divisions, and a dominant win on Saturday at State Farm Arena would put Sy in the fast lane towards a Top 10 matchup.
Malcolm Wellmaker