Alateng Heili vs. Chad Anheilger Added To UFC 279

Alateng Heili and Kevin Croom, UFC Vegas 51
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 16: (R-L) Alatengheili of China punches Kevin Croom in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on April 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

A pair of hard-hitting bantamweights have been added to September’s UFC pay-per-view.

Canadian outlet MMA Empire was first to report the news that Alateng Heili and Chad Anheilger will fight at UFC 279 on September 10. A source close to the situation confirmed the bantamweight match-up to Cageside Press.

Anheilger (12-5) was successful in his UFC debut in February when he knocked out Jesse Strader at UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Hill. Prior to that, he won his UFC contract on season five of Dana White’s Contender Series. “The Monster” is riding a 10-fight win streak.

Heili (15-8-2) got back into the win column in an emphatic fashion by knocking out Kevin Croom in 47 seconds at UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. Muhammad 2. Before his last win, the Chinese fighter fought to a draw against Gustavo Lopez and lost a unanimous decision to Casey Kenney.

UFC 279 does not yet have a venue, location, or main event; however, bantmaweight champ Aljamain Sterling and T.J. Dillashaw had been linked to the PPV card, before things hit a snag.

So far, UFC 279 looks like this:

  • Norma Dumont vs. Danyelle Wolf
  • Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Jailton Almeida
  • Daniel da Silva vs. Victor Altamirano
  • Irene Aldana vs. Macy Chiasson
  • Elise Reed vs. Melissa Martinez
  • Alateng Heili vs. Chad Anheilger
  • Jamie Pickett vs. Denis Tiuliulin