UFC Fight Night 289: John Castaneda vs Alateng Heili Preview & Prediction

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Two bantamweight veterans in need of a win meet at the Apex, as John Castaneda looks to snap a three-fight winless run against Alateng Heili.

John Castaneda vs Alateng Heili facts

What time are John Castaneda and Alateng Heili expected to walk out? 26 September 2026 at 11:40 pm

Where is UFC Fight Night 289: Rosas Jr. vs Barcelos? Meta Apex, Enterprise, USA

Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 289: Rosas Jr. vs Barcelos? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 289

What TV channel is UFC Fight Night 289: Rosas Jr. vs Barcelos on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount

Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 289: Rosas Jr. vs Barcelos? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass

UFC Fight Night 289: Rosas Jr. vs Barcelos main card

Raul Rosas Jr. vs Raoni Barcelos (Bantamweight)

Norma Dumont vs Ailin Perez (Women's Bantamweight)

Luis Hernandez vs Sedriques Dumas (Light Heavyweight)

Mehemmedeli Osmanli vs Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu (Bantamweight)

Melissa Amaya vs Valesca Machado (Women's Strawweight)

UFC Fight Night 289: Rosas Jr. vs Barcelos prelims

Brady Hiestand vs Rinya Nakamura (Bantamweight)

Rodolfo Vieira vs Robert Bryczek (Middleweight)

Rodolfo Bellato vs Christian Edwards (Light Heavyweight)

Josiah Harrell vs Elves Brener vs Josiah Harrell (Lightweight)

Montel Jackson vs Ricky Simon (Bantamweight)

John Castaneda vs Alateng Heili (Bantamweight)

Vanessa Demopoulos vs Yazmin Jauregui (Women's Strawweight)

John Castaneda: “Sexi Mexi” chasing his first win in almost three years

John Castaneda (21-8-1) hasn’t had his hand raised since November 2023, dropping decisions to Daniel Marcos and Chris Gutierrez before a draw against Mark Vologdin in April, where a point deduction for repeated low blows cost him the win. The Minnesotan is about as well rounded as they come, with seven knockouts, seven submissions and seven decisions among his wins. He pushes a high pace, mixing low kicks, body kicks and short one to three punch combinations while constantly switches stances. The issue is that once he commits to exchanges, he’s very hittable down the middle, jack of all trades, master of none.

Alateng Heili: “The Mongolian Knight” returns after a long layoff

Alateng Heili (17-10-2) hasn’t competed since a unanimous decision loss to Da’Mon Blackshear in April 2025. He’s 5-3-1 in the UFC, most recently losing to Blackshear and Chris Gutierrez, but beating Kleydson Rodrigues. A freestyle wrestler by background, Heili likes to sit in the pocket and counter, dipping down to bomb hooks and overhands, with hooks to the body being his best weapon in exchanges. His takedown defence is solid and he’s durable, but his output is low and he doesn’t deal with kicks well.

John Castaneda vs Alateng Heili prediction

On paper, Castaneda is the better fighter. He has the more versatile toolkit and has shared the cage with a higher calibre of opposition in Nathaniel Wood, Daniel Santos, Miles Johns, and Daniel Marcos. 

The grappling should cancel itself out. Heili’s takedown defence is good, and Castaneda, a former college wrestler, has the tools to shut down Heili’s shots. That should keep the fight standing, where Castaneda holds the edge. He’ll have a reach advantage, the better distance management and far more volume. Heili fights in orthodox, so whenever Castaneda switches to southpaw, the open-stance body kick will be there all night, and the low kicks should chip away at a man who struggles dealing with them.

Heili’s path runs through the exchanges in the pocket. If Castaneda gets sucked into exchanges, those hooks and overhands, particularly the hooks to the body, can find a fighter who’s typically more hittable during trades. Castaneda hasn’t always turned his advantages on paper into wins, like the fight against Gutierrez.

Neither fighter is likely to get stopped, both are durable. Expect Castaneda to outwork him across 15 minutes.

Prediction: John Castaneda to win by decision