LAS VEGAS – UFC light heavyweight Misha Cirkunov will not be making any more appearances in the middleweight division.
In his two previous fights, Cirkunov (15-8 MMA, 6-6 UFC) decided to make a change in his fighting career and try his hand at middleweight. Now, back at 205 pounds to face Alonzo Menifield at UFC Fight Night 212 at UFC Apex, Cirkunov admits the weight cut hindered his performance.
“Yeah, 185, I know I can make it, it’s just I didn’t have enough energy there,” Cirkunov told reporters including MMA Junkie at Wednesday’s media day. “When I was getting in certain positions, I couldn’t implement certain of my strength. I felt like I didn’t have enough strength in me, and that was due to just like, massive weight cut. This time I feel like I have energy, and can put energy into implementing those positions and looking to finish.”
Cirkunov lost both bouts at middleweight; a split decision loss to Krzysztof Jotko last October and a submission loss to Wellington Turman in February.
“I just think it’s a little too much of a cut,” Cirkunov said. “It’s one thing to make the weight, but it’s another to perform at the highest stage at that weight. It was not for me, you know? But I had to try it because otherwise, I would never know.”
On Saturday, Cirkunov will step back into the cage closer to his natural weight to face the hard-hitting Menifield (12-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC), who is coming off a first-round finish of Askar Mozharov in June.
During his UFC career, Cirkunov has racked up four first-round finishes, tapping Jimmy Crute, Patrick Cummins, Nikita Krylov, and pounding out Daniel Jolly. Cirkunov believes that his finishing ability combined with Menifield’s could create fireworks early.
“This is one of those fights that could be an explosive first round, and then we’ll see.” Cirkunov said. “It’s definitely going to be a very rough first round, and then we’ll see how it’s going to go from there.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 212.
