UFC Fight Night 241 has added a new bantamweight fight to its card. Kleydson Rodrigues (8-3) and Heili Alateng (16-9-2) will go at it on May 18 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. First announced by Alateng’s management team, Iridium Sports Agency, the fight will showcase two promising fighters in the UFC.
For the “Mongolian Knight”, this is his chance to show his aggressive fighting style to the world. For Rodrigues, the Brazilian MMA fighter wants to move up the bantamweight rankings. Winning against Alateng would be a terrific start to achieving that mission.
But what do the two fighters bring to the table? What are their strengths and weaknesses that could factor into the fight? While UFC Fight Night 241 will have a main event of Lerone Murphy and Edzon Barboza, this might be the fight of the night. Here’s a look at what Rodrigues and Alateng offer for their upcoming fight.
What Kleydson Rodrigues Can Do
Kleydson Rodrigues is a fighter who likes to keep his opponent in front of him at all times. The Brazilian MMA artist is laser-focused in the octagon, determined to find an opening. Such focus comes with a defensive style, where he waits to counterattack.
One thing he can do is be better at defending takedowns. Although Rodrigues can use his quickness to escape, he can be prone to being grappled often. Being put in such a compromised position can wear down the Brazilian, which can leave him open for a beatdown later on.
What Heili Alateng Can Do
Compared to Kleydson Rodrigues, Heili Alateng is a more aggressive fighter. The Chinese fighter isn’t afraid of taking the big swing, going for an instant knockout. While that can hurt him against Rodrigues, Alateng can punish his foes early on. Just ask Devin Haney about this.
While Alateng can learn to be more tame with his swings, his defense keeps him in fights. Defending strikes (58%) and takedowns (72%) makes him a tough fighter. His ability to move around the octagon is also what makes him potent. If he can bait Rodrigues into making a few mistakes, he can dominate the fight the same way Ryan Garcia dominated Devin Haney on Saturday.
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Jacob Walters is a boxing/MMA writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @IceColdWJacob
