John Castañeda VS Alateng Heili

Alateng Heili defeated John Castañeda by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) in a bantamweight preliminary bout at UFC Fight Night: Rosas Jr. vs. Barcelos on September 26, 2026. Castañeda controlled the first two rounds with active leg kicks, stance switches, and clean counter-striking, taking those frames 10-9 on all three judges' cards. The third round turned the fight: Heili landed a takedown roughly one minute in and dictated from top position, repeatedly targeting Castañeda's thigh with knees while controlling the cage. Castañeda threatened with a guillotine choke to work back to his feet, but Heili's wrestling control earned him a 10-9 round from all three judges and the narrow victory on two of three cards.

John Castañeda enters this bantamweight bout without a win since 2024, having absorbed a split-decision loss and a draw in his last two outings, and another poor result could end his UFC tenure. Alateng Heili, nicknamed the Mongolian Knight, brings relentless forward pressure and high-volume striking to a style matchup that should produce action regardless of who gets their hand raised. For Castañeda in particular, there is no margin for error.