Rodrigues had been submitted by Farid Basharat, while Heili had dropped a decision to Chris Gutierrez.

The bout began with both fighters measuring the distance and Rodrigues circling the outside throwing stinging kicks. Half a minute in, and Rodrigues threw a leg kick that took Alatengheili off of his feet. Rodrigues was able to quickly slap on a guillotine, but Alatengheili initiated a scramble and ended up on top in his opponent’s guard, in the center of the octagon.

Midway through the opening round and Alatengheili was landing short strikes in his opponent’s guard with Rodriguez occasionally returning with a few elbows of his own from bottom. There were a couple of times throughout the second half of the round where Kleydson looked to shift his hips and escape from the bottom but was ultimately unable to. The round ended with Alatengheili having secured around four minutes of ground control.

The second round began with Rodrigues again throwing multiple kicks and landing, hard. Alatengheili was continually moving forward trying to close the distance but the threat of the kicks were temporarily backing him off. A minute in and multiple calf kicks landed from Rodrigues and the redness on Alatengheli’s  shin was very noticeable. Alatengheili finally scored with a couple of shots in there. With two minutes left in the round, Alatengheili scooped up a single leg and dumped his opponent to the ground close to the cage. Toward the end of the round Rodrigues temporarily looked at isolating the arm for a submission attempt but wasn’t able to secure it.

To open the final round Rodriges landed a hard spinning back fist and then a jumping knee but his opponent barely looked affected by it. Alatengheili was still inching forward, always pressuring as he had the entire fight and looking to throw punches while his opponent was still mixing up various hard kicks beautifully. With three minutes left in the round, Alatengheili still had Rodrigues moving laterally and throwing kicks with his extreme pressure. With nearly two minutes left in the round Rodrigues looked for a double leg takedown against the cage but was reversed and taken down himself by Alatengheili.  From Kleydson’s closed guard, Alatengheili was landing meaningful short strikes as his opponent again was looking to isolate his arm for a submission. And that is where the fight would stay for the sound of the final bell.

Official Result: Alatengheili def. Kleydson Rodrigues by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

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Gutierrez came into the bout looking to rebound from a loss to Pedro Munhoz, Chris’ first loss since 2018. Alatengheili came in on a two-fight winning streak where he has looked better than ever and which earned him his first crack at a ranked opponent in his UFC career.

Both men came out orthodox and it was only a few seconds before Gutierrez started attacking with leg kicks, his signature weapon. He switched stances fluidly to set up different attacks with his legs, going to the body after the legs, while feinting with his hips and fists. Alatengheili could hardly land a single punch in the round while Gutierrez kept flowing the whole time. He began to open up and land punches as well as kicks while circling the outside of the cage the entire time. When Alatengheili tried to close distance Gutierrez was simply not there to be hit. The round was a clear win for Gutierrez, but probably not a 10-8 round.

Alatengheili began to try to be even more aggressive in round two, blitzing forward behind shifting combos, but Gutierrez was still able to evade and counter consistently. When Alatengheili did not come forward Gutierrez threw his kicks to slowly piece up his foe, leading to another round won for Chris.

In round three Alatengheili finally shot his first takedown attempt and landed it after a struggle. However Gutierrez was able to spring back to his feet and get to his striking and win the rest of the round, cruising to an easy 30-27 decision.

There was no doubt when the scorecards were read as the judges gave Chris Gutierrez a unanimous 30-27 decision.

Official Result: Chris Gutierrez def. Alatengheili by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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Following up an April win over Kevin Croom, the 30-year old from Inner Mongolia, China went the distance with Canadian Chad Anheliger. Not much surprised him in the bout, he told reporters backstage following the bout. Not even breaking Anheliger’s nose.

“My initial thoughts [are] that this is how the fight was going to go. So this is really no surprise to me, due to my heart, training, and my camp/preparation,” Alatengheili (16-8-2) stated, speaking via translator to media outlets including Cageside Press.

“Of course we game planned everything and we tried to counter. But then during the fight, there was something that kind of surprised me, but I was able to counter everything he was throwing at me.”

As for the broken nose, which Anheliger suffered relatively early, “Again, it doesn’t shock me because this is the combo I practiced drilling in camp with my sparring partner, throwing that right hand to break his nose,” Alatengheili stated. “So again, this is how we wanted the fight to go.”

Watch the full UFC 279 post-fight press scrum with “The Mongolian Knight” Alateng Heili above.

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Heili entered the night off a win over Kevin Croom, which snapped a two-fight winless streak (one loss, one draw) for the Mongolian. Anheliger had won ten straight overall, an impressive streak regardless of promotion.

The Canadian’s run of good fortune would come to an end Saturday, however.

The preliminary card scrap opened with plenty of feeling out and single strikes, particularly right hands. Both men connected with jabs, but nothing much in the way of significant strikes connected early. Anheliger fired a right over the top, but moments later, he was backpedaling off a Heili connection. Near the midway mark, Alateng Heili cracked the Canadian with a left hand that drew an immediate reaction from both the crowd and Anheliger. Heili was in the driver’s seat with less than two minutes in the round, and clipped a bloodied Anheliger once again. Anheliger was hurt, in full defensive most, though he would land once swinging blindly trying to create space and buy some recovery time.

Chad Anheliger was in need of a fresh start in round two. He would connect with a left just under two minute into the round. But it was Heili leading the attack, working the body and landing his jab. The left hand continued to be successful for the Mongolian, and Anheliger was soon retreating again.

Come round three, Anheliger was able to press a little. But he was fighting from behind, almost certainly down on the scorecards. Heili’s movement was just too good; Anheliger’s strikes were hitting air more often than not. He remained in the fight, however, putting the pressure on, but with a minute remaining was in need of a finish. Instead, Heili landed a takedown, which Anheliger briefly defended with a choke — but the takedown was completed, and cemented the victory, never really in question, for Alateng Heili.

The Mongolian Knight dictated the pace 🙌

Alatengheili walking away with the win at #UFC279! pic.twitter.com/bdIBlGVsjh

— UFC (@ufc) September 10, 2022

Official Result: Alateng Heili def. Chad Anheliger by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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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

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Alateng was entering off a draw against Gustavo Lopez, while Croom had dropped back-to-back fights against Alex Caceres and Brian Kelleher. Those two losses had prompted Croom to drop to 135lbs for Saturday’s bout.

In the end, Alatengheili spoiled Croom’s bantamweight debut — but few would have foreseen how quickly he got the job done.

Both fighters took the center of the octagon after a touch of the gloves. A front kick from Croom started the fight. Croom landed a body kick and a low kick. Alateng landed an overhand right and sparked Croom. Croom tried to recover, but Alatengheili pounced on him, landing a few more punches. Croom went face-first to the mat, which forced the referee to step in.

The Chinese fighter only needed a minute to put away Croom. Less than that, actually.

Alatengheili starts us off with a BANG 💥 #UFCVegas51 pic.twitter.com/lZkO22WbEL

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 16, 2022

The win snaps Alatengheili’s skid, which saw him suffer a loss prior to his draw with Lopez, and puts him back into the win column for the first time since 2019. As for Croom, that is three straight losses, and he might be on his way back to the regional scene.

Official Result: Alatengheili def. Kevin Croom by knockout (punches), Round 1, 0:47

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The Fight Night event in Las Vegas found Gustavo Lopez and Heili Alateng both coming off single defeats in their last outings. Lopez had found himself the victim of an Adrian Yanez knockout back in March, while Alateng dropped a unanimous decision to Casey Kenney in October of last year.

Both fighters were entering their fourth fight inside the octagon on Saturday night.

After a glove touch both men met in the middle of the octagon. Alateng missed a 1-2 combo and then ate a front kick to the body. Lopez clinched with Alateng after he barely missed with a heavy right hand. Both fighters landed punches before Lopez shot for a takedown, but wasn’t able to do much with it. Alateng landed a hook that opened up a cut on Lopez, and then Lopez landed a hook right back. Alateng landed a nice 1-2 that backed Lopez up. Lopez landed a light body kick with 34 seconds left. Alateng attempted a flying knee to end the round.

The second round started with Alateng landing a calf kick. Alateng backed Lopez against the cage, which made the Mexican fighter throw a calf kick himself. After trading calf kicks, Alateng landed a right cross on Lopez. Alateng landed a heavy left hand and another right cross. With 90 seconds left in the round Lopez shot for a takedown which was Alateng was ready to stuff. Lopez landed another calf kick to end the second round.

Round three started with Lopez landing another light calf kick. Alateng barely missed a big hook 20 seconds into the round. Alateng landed a left hook that seemed to wobble Lopez. Lopez then charged Alateng swing recklessly, landing a few punches, which ended with a takedown.

Keith Peterson warned Alateng about a fence grab. Alateng did it again and forced Peterson to take a point from the fighter.

The action resumed, and Lopez immediately took Alateng’s back. Alateng escaped, and both fighters got back to the center. Alateng shot for a takedown, and Lopez grabbed a tight guillotine. Alateng defended the guillotine and got back to his feet to end the fight.

Gustavo Lopez and Heili Alateng fight to a Unanimous Draw (28–28, 28–28, 28–28)

The post UFC Vegas 37 Results: After A Fence Grab, Gustavo Lopez vs. Heili Alateng Ends In A Draw appeared first on Cageside Press.

Chinese bantamweight Heili Alateng, known as “The Mongolian Knight,” rode a four-fight win streak into UFC Fight Island 4 on Saturday. Opposite him was arguably his toughest test to date, however, in former LFA double-champ Casey Kenney. Kenney himself was looking to make it two in a row, after defeating Louis Smolka back in May.

Kenney opened up fast, throwing a variety of kicks to the body that left Alateng’s body red early. Kenney was pushing the pressure and never let Alateng get into a rhythm, throwing heavy early. He repeatedly slammed the body kicks and then went up high for a head kick. He also began feinting and landing hard hooks, Alateng was landing his own strikes but Kenney beat him to the punch every time. Alateng lost his mouthpiece with about 90 seconds left in the first round, but Kenney wasn’t letting him get it back, as he fired off a huge combination that landed. Alateng ended up getting his mouthpiece and miraculously made it to round two after eating what seemed like multiple fight-ending shots.

Kenney opened up round two the same way the entire first round went, by landing devastating body kicks. Kenney landed a big combination in the opening seconds that had the referee warn Alateng to defend himself. However, Kenney didn’t push for the finish. Alateng did have a brief moment of success following Kenney with a hard right hand that caused him to push forward for a minute. However, Kenney landed a hard body kick that forced Alateng’s body to the fence once again. Kenney started to beat on Alateng like he was a heavy bag, going to the body and going to the head with kicks once again. Alateng did a good job of surviving again in round two, but surviving was about the only good thing he did.

Kenney went right back to work in round three, landing shot after shot to the ribcage of Alateng. Alateng wasn’t discouraged, however, as he tried to march forward and land shots in the opening moments of round three. Kenney still went ahead with his gameplan, landing more head kicks and began integrating a hard right cross. Alateng’s arms and ribs were extremely red but he kept marching forward trying to get the finish. However, the finish wouldn’t come for him or Casey Kenney, as the two headed to the scorecards.

⛽️ All gas, no brakes! @CKMMA135 still pushing the pace in the 3rd!#UFCFightIsland4 live on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/qKdju2o67j

— UFC (@ufc) October 4, 2020

Casey Kenney def. Heili Alateng by Unanimous decision (30-25, 30-26, 30-27) 

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A slow feeling out process began in in UFC Busan’s card-opening bantanmweight fight. China’s Heili Alateng, billed as Alatengheili, was riding a three-fight win streak entering the night, and was looking to get the better of Ryan Benoit, who was returning to action for the first time since 2017, when he competed as a flyweight, knocking out Ashkan Mokhtarian. Benoit, however, had missed weight last time out, hence the move up to 135lbs.

The first round was peppered with action from both men, Alateng’s leg had being lightning-quick. Benoit’s body kick was hitting home, opening his oppnet up to further attacks. In the final minute, however, with seconds ticking away, Alateng landed a straight right hand that momentarily dropped Benoit, in what was the biggest moment in the fight to that point.

The second found Benoit on the attack, firing an overhand right. Alateng then pressed forward, with Benoit on the outside, firing that body kick again. Alateng was showing some redness on his ribs, and Benoit flashed the kick again, only to go upstairs this time. It connected, but not clean. Not much in the way of a takedown attempt or even much grappling at all during the first half of the fight, as the pair were content to stand and trade. Later in the round, Benoit saw his nose bloodied, as Alateng landed a number of times with his right hand. He then mixed it up, targeting the body. Benoit would punch his way in, in way of retaliation, only to get caught closing the distance. A big right hand for Alateng closed out the round.

The third saw the fight finally go to the ground, Alateng dropping levels and securing a double leg. The ground game slowed things down a little, as Alateng spent plenty of time on top. The Chinese fighter would spend some time in side control, and while Benoit would eventually make his way up, he wasn’t able to find much success in the final frame.

Official Result: Alateng Heili def. Ryan Benoit by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) 

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UFC Shenzhen forced MMA fans in the west to be up early (or stay up late), and on paper was a throwaway card outside a couple of key fights. As so often is the case, however, a lineup that failed to inspire over-performed, meaning those who did wake up before the rooster crowed were greeted with an entertaining morning of fights.

Those included the main and co-main events, both of which saw winning fighters awarded with Performance of the Night bonuses. The co-feature had Li Jingliang, known to UFC fans everywhere as ‘The Leech,’ earning his fifth post-fight bonus in his last six fights after a late third-round TKO of Elizeau Zaleski dos Santos. Jingliang (17–5) was all set to win a decision, but with nine seconds remaining, managed for force the stoppage, setting up the sequence with an uppercut.

In the main event, meanwhile, Weili Zhang took just 42 seconds to become the first Chinese champion in UFC history. Her TKO of Jessica Andrade will resonate for weeks and months to come. But in the meantime, Zhang has improved to 20-1, with a 20-fight win streak. She’s now the UFC’s strawweight champion, and the division is wide open in terms of contenders.

Who got FOTN for an extra 💰 50k?

Alateng vs Batgerel | B2YB @ToyoTires #UFCShenzhen pic.twitter.com/Oj495QArdn

— UFC (@ufc) August 31, 2019

Fight of the Night honors at UFC Shenzhen, meanwhile, went to bantamweights Alateng Heili and Danaa Batgerel. They featured in a close bout that saw Heili fall back on his wrestling skills to take home a unanimous decision win.

All four fighters will pick up $50,000 for their efforts.

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