UFC Fight Night: John Castaneda vs Mark Vologdin Preview & Prediction
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An intriguing bantamweight clash pits Contender Series alum, Mark Vologdin, against UFC veteran, John Castaneda.
John Castaneda vs Mark Vologdin facts
What time are John Castaneda and Mark Vologdin expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Burns vs Malott? Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, Canada
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Burns vs Malott? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 273
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Burns vs Malott on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Burns vs Malott? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Burns vs Malott main card
Gilbert Burns vs Mike Malott (Welterweight)
Kyler Phillips vs Charles Jourdain (Bantamweight)
Mandel Nallo vs Jai Herbert (Lightweight)
Jasmine Jasudavicius vs Karine Silva (Women’s Flyweight)
Thiago Moises vs Gauge Young (Lightweight)
Dennis Buzukja vs Marcio Barbosa (Featherweight)
UFC Fight Night: Burns vs Malott prelims
Julien Leblanc vs Robert Valentin (Middleweight)
Tanner Boser vs Gokhan Saricam (Heavyweight)
Melissa Croden vs Darya Zheleznyakova (Women’s Bantamweight)
JJ Aldrich vs Jamey Lyn Horth (Women’s Flyweight)
John Castaneda vs Mark Vologdin (Bantamweight)
Jamie Siraj vs John Yannis (Bantamweight)
John Castaneda: Can the veteran play spoiler and push his UFC record above .500?
Looking to push his UFC record above .500, John Castaneda (21-8) returns for his ninth fight in the promotion on a two fight losing skid, a winless run that stretches back to 2023. “Sexi Mexi” is 4-4 in the promotion since signing back in 2020, facing the likes of Nathaniel Wood and Chris Gutierrez along the way. Castaneda’s 21 victories are split evenly between KOs, submissions, and decision victories, underlining his well-rounded skillset and tenacity in the cage. He’s also proven to be a tricky customer to get out of there, coughing up just two stoppage defeats throughout the course of a near thirty fight career.
Mark Vologdin: The Russian debuts following a FOTY showing on the Contender Series
Fresh off what is likely the greatest fight in Contender Series history, there’s a valid argument to be made that Mark Vologdin (12-4-1) did more to deserve a contract in defeat than many fighters have done with a victory. The fire hydrant-esque Russian went hell for leather against Adrian Luna Martinetti in a valiant losing effort in September, combining for almost three hundred significant strikes across three electrifying rounds. A bona-fide finisher fighting out of Sweden’s renowned, Allstars Training Centre, Vologdin’s loss to Martinetti marked only the fourth time that the former AFN champion been to the scorecards as a professional.
John Castaneda vs Mark Vologdin prediction
As with all Vologdin fights at bantamweight, his height will likely prove to be an issue here. While he’s built like a fire hydrant with fists, the Russian is extremely short for the weight class at 5’3. Castaneda is no giant for the division, but he’s still going to have a significant height and reach advantage heading into this one.
With that being said, Vologdin has still managed to work his way into the pocket against virtually every opponent he’s faced. While he’s primarily a wrestler, Castaneda is decent on the feet but whether he has the striking acumen to play the matador to the Russian’s bull across three rounds has yet to be seen. Furthermore, he doesn’t have the power to make Vologdin hesitant as he attempts to get on the inside.
It’s going to be close; considering both men’s penchant for marching forward and implementing a frenetic pace, this could well be a barnburner. However, while Vologdin will feel like he has a point to prove in his debut after coming up short on the Contender Series, I like Castaneda’s UFC experience to see him to victory. “Sexi Mexi” lands the more damaging strikes at a higher clip across three rounds, using his range advantage to stymy Vologdin and earn the decision.
Prediction: John Castaneda to win by decision
