UFC 334: Alateng Heili vs Juan Diaz Preview & Prediction

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Unbeaten in nine, Juan Diaz takes on bantamweight veteran Alateng Heili at UFC 334 in New York, after Heili stepped in for the injured Adrian Yanez.

Alateng Heili vs Juan Diaz facts

What time are Alateng Heili and Juan Diaz expected to walk out? 14 November 2026 at 10:40 pm

Where is UFC 334: Gane vs Hokit? Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA

Where can I get tickets for UFC 334: Gane vs Hokit? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 334

What TV channel is UFC 334: Gane vs Hokit on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount

Where can I stream UFC 334: Gane vs Hokit? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass

UFC 334: Gane vs Hokit main card

Ciryl Gane vs Josh Hokit (Heavyweight)

Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes (Women’s Bantamweight)

Caio Borralho vs Yousri Belgaroui (Middleweight)

Uros Medic vs Kevin Holland (Welterweight)

Bilal Hasan vs Luis Gurule (Flyweight)

UFC 334: Gane vs Hokit prelims

Stephen Thompson vs Charles Radtke (Welterweight)

Drew Dober vs Chris Duncan (Lightweight)

Jim Miller vs Terrance McKinney (Lightweight)

Donte Johnson vs Cesar Almeida (Middleweight)

Jared Gordon vs Melquizael Costa (Lightweight)

Macy Chiasson vs Beatriz Mesquita (Women’s Bantamweight)

Alateng Heili vs Juan Diaz (Bantamweight)

Evan Elder vs Samuel Sanches (Lightweight)

Alateng Heili: “The Mongolian Knight” fresh off an upset

Alateng Heili (18-10-2) steps in for Adrian Yanez less than two months after edging John Castaneda by split decision as a big underdog. That win took him to 6-3-1 in the UFC, and he’s never been stopped inside the Octagon. A freestyle wrestler by background, Heili has good takedown defence and decent shots of his own, and once he’s in a dominant position he can keep control and ride out rounds. On the feet he sits in the pocket and counters, dipping down to bomb hooks and overhands, and the left hook to the body is his best weapon. His volume is low though, and he doesn’t deal with kicks well.

Juan Diaz: “Pegajoso” proves he’s no regional fraud

Juan Diaz (16-1-1) brings a nine-fight win streak into Madison Square Garden. He earned his contract with a viral spinning back elbow knockout of Won II Kwon on the Contender Series, with two seconds left in the second round, then upset Malcolm Wellmaker on his UFC debut in May. He dropped Wellmaker with a right hand late in the first, dragged him down in the second, took the back and locked in the rear-naked choke. Diaz is a sharp counter-puncher who likes short pocket exchanges, but he can slip into a back-and-forth sparring rhythm, and his hands drift lower as fights wear on.

Alateng Heili vs Juan Diaz prediction

Heili is well rounded and can scrap it out in a dogfight. He’s a good test for anyone with a clear weakness in one area of the game, but I don’t see gaps big enough in Diaz’s game for him to exploit. Before Wellmaker, there wasn’t a standout name on Diaz’s record and it was fair to ask how his regional run would translate. That performance answered the question. He’s legit, and he can climb in this division.

On the feet, Diaz has the power. Heili has decent pop in his hands, but he has one stoppage in ten UFC fights, and if he wants to sit in the pocket trading counters, he’s doing it against the man who hits harder. Heili’s durability is also why this probably goes the full fifteen minutes. He hasn’t been stopped in the UFC, and I don’t see Diaz changing that.

The biggest edge is on the ground. Wrestling is Heili’s base, but Diaz showed in a short night against Wellmaker that his scrambling and back-takes are real, and if Heili’s shots turn into scrambles, Diaz is the one more likely to come out on top. Diaz is just a bit better in every department here, and I think he cruises to a decision.

Prediction: Juan Diaz to win