The MMA Daily

We have a scrap in the Bantamweight division, as Chad Anheliger takes on Heili Alateng. Coming off a successful UFC debut, in which he finished Jesse Strader via TKO, Anheliger extended his win streak to ten. At 35 years old, time isn’t on the Canadian’s side, but is he can make some noise in his second UFC appearance, perhaps he can make a quick accession up 135 pounds. Meanwhile, Alateng is coming off a 47 second knockout victory over Kevin Croom. The victory was his third in the UFC, but first since a split decision nod over Ryan Benoit in 2019. Looking to be more active, Alateng will fight twice in a calendar year for the first time in three years.

If anything is certain, Anheliger is a dog. Unwilling to relent, despite whatever adversity he faces, the well rounded Canadian has done an excellent job by implementing his will to win during this ten fight win streak. However, Alateng is a tall task that I don’t Anheliger getting by. The reason behind that notion, is that Alateng is well rounded, and as you saw in the Kevin Croom fight, carries some legit power in his hands. The one problem that has held Alateng back, is his inactivity both outside the cage and inside. In fact, in five UFC fights, Alateng has landed a high of 47 significant strikes. While those numbers don’t pop and definitely give Anheliger an edge, Alateng has shown that he also can wrestle. Given Anheliger was taken down four times in his UFC debut, as well as five times on Dana White’s Contender Series, Alateng has another path to victory. One in which I could foresee aiding him to a decision victory.