Alatengheili Replaces Injured Adrian Yanez to Face Juan Diaz at UFC 334

Alatengheili has stepped in on short notice to fight Juan Diaz in a bantamweight bout at UFC 334 on November 14. The Chinese fighter replaces Adrian Yanez, who was forced out of the card with an injury.

Alatengheili brings a 6-3-1 UFC record into the fight and is coming off a win. On September 26, he took a split decision over John Castaneda at UFC Fight Night: Rosas Jr. vs. Barcelos. The turnaround is quick, with the new bout set for roughly seven weeks after that victory.

Diaz is 1-0 in the UFC and 16-1-1 overall. The 28-year-old made his promotional debut on May 16 at UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Costa, submitting Malcolm Wellmaker in the second round. He fights out of an orthodox stance and stands five-foot-eight with a 69-inch reach.

Yanez, 32, had been scheduled for the slot. The American from Metro Fight Club is 18-6-1 and was riding momentum, having knocked out Cody Garbrandt in the first round at UFC 329 on July 11. That result followed a majority draw with Ricky Simon in March.

Why it matters

The numbers point to a clear stylistic contrast on Diaz's side of the matchup.

• Takedown volume: Diaz averages 5.5 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.8 submission attempts, a grappling-heavy profile that already produced a finish on his debut.
• Striking: He lands 3.72 significant strikes per minute at 41 percent accuracy, so his offense leans on wrestling rather than output on the feet.
• Opportunity: For Diaz, the late change swaps a recent knockout winner for an opponent who has just gone the distance, and a win would build on his debut.

For Alatengheili, a second straight victory would extend his run at 135 pounds and add to a UFC tally that already includes six wins. Taking the fight on about a week's notice also keeps him active on a major card.