# John Castañeda

John Castañeda (born December 18, 1991) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor since 2012, he formerly competed for Combate Global.

## Background

Castañeda was born in Dallas, Texas. At four, he relocated to Minnesota, where he currently resides. During his freshman year of college, he wrestled for the Minnesota State Mavericks. In 2013, Castañeda graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato. He double-majored in criminal justice and Spanish with a minor in social work.

## Professional mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Castañeda went 15–1 in amateur competition, and racked a professional record of 7–2 in the regional circuit of Minnesota before signing with Combate Americas. In Combate Americas, Castañeda amassed four straight victories which led to a shot at the inaugural Combate Americas Bantamweight Championship. Castañeda faced Gustavo Lopez at Combate Americas - Empire Rising on October 14, 2016, with the bout being originally being for the championship, however Castañeda missed weight, coming in at 137.5 lbs. He won the bout via fourth-round knockout.
Castañeda was cut from Combate Americas after he refused the rematch against Gustavo Lopez, however he later returned to the promotion, defeating Chris Beal via TKO in the second round at Combate Americas 14.

### Dana White's Contender Series

Having racked up a record of 13–2, Castañeda was invited to compete at Dana White's Contender Series 5, facing Cheyden Leialoha. He won the bout via unanimous decision, but was not awarded with a contract to the UFC.

### Return to Combate

On October 26, 2017, it was announced that Castañeda would participate in Combate Americas' Copa Combate 2017 one-night tournament that took place on November 11, 2017. In the quarterfinals Castañeda faced Kevin Moreyra, winning by first-round submission. Advancing to the semifinals, he defeated Marc Gomez by unanimous decision. In the tournament final Castañeda faced Levy Marroquín, losing the bout via unanimous decision.
Castañeda was expected to headline Combate Americas Mexico vs. USA against Érik Pérez on October 13, 2018, but the bout was postponed to a later date because Castañeda caught staph infection.
After the tournament, Castañeda went on to lose one and win one bout in Combate Americas before being signed to the UFC on short notice.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Replacing the mourning Umar Nurmagomedov on short notice on July 26, 2020, Castañeda made his UFC debut against Nathaniel Wood at UFC on ESPN 14. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Castañeda faced Eddie Wineland on February 20, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 185. He won the fight via first round technical knockout.
Castañeda faced Miles Johns on February 5, 2022 at UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland. He won the fight via third round technical submission.
As the last bout of his initial UFC contract, Castañeda faced Daniel Santos on October 1, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 211. He lost the bout in the second round, getting knocked out with a knee. This bout earned the Fight of the Night award.
As the first fight of his new four-fight contract, Castañeda was scheduled to face Mateus Mendonça on June 3, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 46. However, Mendonça withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Muin Gafurov. Castañeda won the fight by unanimous decision.
Castañeda faced Kang Kyung-ho on November 18, 2023 at UFC 295. He won the bout via unanimous decision.
Castañeda faced Daniel Marcos on June 8, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 57. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Castañeda was scheduled to face Douglas Silva de Andrade on March 1, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 253. However, despite having the bout changed to a 140 pound catchweight bout, the fight was cancelled as Silva de Andrade did not have medical clearance to compete.
Replacing Jean Matsumoto, who was withdrawn from UFC 313 in order to serve as a replacement fighter two weeks prior, Castañeda was scheduled to face Chris Gutiérrez on March 8, 2025 at UFC 313 in a featherweight bout. However, a few hours before the event took place, Castañeda withdrew due to an undisclosed illness and the bout was scrapped.

## Championships and accomplishments
### Mixed martial arts

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Daniel Santos

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 28 matches | 21 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 8 | 2 |
| By submission | 6 | 0 |
| By decision | 7 | 5 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 21–7 | Daniel Marcos | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Imavov | June 8, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Louisville, Kentucky, United States | |
| Win | 21–6 | Kang Kyung-ho | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 295 | November 11, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | New York City, New York, United States | Catchweight (138 lb) bout. |
| Win | 20–6 | Muin Gafurov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi | June 3, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Gafurov was deducted 1 point in round 2 due to repeatedly leading with the head. |
| Loss | 19–6 | Daniel Santos | KO (punches and knee) | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan | October 1, 2022 | 2 | 4:28 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 19–5 | Miles Johns | Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland | February 5, 2022 | 3 | 1:38 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Johns tested positive for adderall. |
| Win | 18–5 | Eddie Wineland | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis | February 20, 2021 | 1 | 4:44 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 17–5 | Nathaniel Wood | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till | July 26, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 17–4 | Marcelo Rojo | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Combate Americas 35 | April 12, 2019 | 3 | 2:37 | Monterrey, Mexico | Catchweight (138.5 lb) bout; Castañeda missed weight. |
| Loss | 16–4 | José Alday | Decision (split) | Combate Americas 20 | April 13, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Loss | 16–3 | Levy Saúl Marroquín | Decision (unanimous) | Combate Americas 18 | November 11, 2017 | 3 | 3:00 | Cancún, Mexico | Copa Combate Bantamweight Tournament Final. |
| Win | 16–2 | Marc Gomez | Decision (unanimous) | Combate Americas 18 | November 11, 2017 | 3 | 3:00 | Cancún, Mexico | Copa Combate Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 15–2 | Kevin Moreyra | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Combate Americas 18 | November 11, 2017 | 1 | 4:52 | Cancún, Mexico | Copa Combate Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 14–2 | Cheyden Leialoha | Decision (unanimous) | Dana White's Contender Series 4 | August 1, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 13–2 | Chris Beal | TKO (punches) | Combate Americas 14 | May 5, 2017 | 2 | 0:42 | Ventura, California, United States | |
| Win | 12–2 | Gustavo Lopez | TKO (punches) | Combate Americas 9 | October 14, 2016 | 4 | 2:24 | Verona, New York, United States | Return to Bantamweight. For the vacant Combate Bantamweight Championship. Castañeda missed weight (137.5 lb) and was ineligible to win the title. |
| Win | 11–2 | Angel Cruz | TKO (punches) | Combate Americas 8 | August 11, 2016 | 2 | 2:25 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Win | 10–2 | Gabriel Solorio | Decision (split) | Combate Americas 6 | April 25, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 9–2 | Federico Lopez | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Combate Americas: Road to the Championship 2 | December 16, 2015 | 3 | 4:49 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. |
| Win | 8–2 | Justin Governale | Decision (unanimous) | Combate Americas: Road to the Championship 1 | September 17, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. |
| Win | 7–2 | Joe Pearson | TKO (punches) | KOTC: Power Surge | August 22, 2015 | 1 | 2:47 | Carlton, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 6–2 | Pedro Velasco | Submission (rear-naked choke) | KOTC: Total Dominance | May 16, 2015 | 1 | 2:42 | Carlton, Minnesota, United States | |
| Loss | 5–2 | Matt Brown | Decision (split) | RFA 19 | October 10, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 5–1 | Ruddy Gray | TKO (punches) | Driller Promotions: Live MMA at 7 Clans Casino | July 26, 2014 | 2 | 3:17 | River Falls, Minnesota, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 4–1 | Matt Brown | TKO (punches) | Driller Promotions: Mecca 5 | May 31, 2014 | 1 | 2:22 | Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States | For the Driller Promotions Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 4–0 | Derrick Mandell | Decision (unanimous) | Driller Promotions: Caged Chaos at Canterbury Park 5 | February 22, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Shakopee, Minnesota, United States | Bantamweight debut. |
| Win | 3–0 | Adam Schumacher | TKO (submission to punches) | Driller Promotions: Mecca 2 | November 2, 2013 | 1 | 3:32 | Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Bruce Johnson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Driller Promotions: Downtown Showdown 12 | January 26, 2013 | 1 | 2:32 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | Catchweight (165 lb) bout. |
| Win | 1–0 | Brandon Abrego | KO (punch) | Driller Promotions: Caged Chaos at Canterbury Park 1 | September 22, 2012 | 1 | 0:36 | Shakopee, Minnesota, United States | Lightweight debut. |