May 13, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Anthony Smith (red gloves) fights Johnny Walker (blue gloves) in a light heavyweight bout during UFC Fight Night at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

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What Time Does UFC Start Today? UFC Shanghai Start Time, Preview, TV Channel And Live Streaming

The UFC is finally heading back to China after a long absence that nobody really expected to last this long. Shanghai hasn’t hosted a UFC event since November 2017, when Michael Bisping and Kelvin Gastelum put on a show for the Chinese fans. The COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into everyone’s travel plans, and the UFC’s relationship with China got complicated along the way. What was supposed to be a quick return in 2023 got moved to Las Vegas at the last minute for reasons nobody wanted to discuss publicly.

But here we are in 2025, and the UFC is finally making good on their promise to bring the octagon back to mainland China! Shanghai Indoor Stadium will host UFC event today. The card looks absolutely stacked for a Fight Night event. The promotion clearly wants to make a strong impression on their return, loading up the card with exciting fights and giving Chinese fans plenty to cheer about.

Johnny Walker headlines against local favorite Zhang Mingyang in what should be a fireworks show in the light heavyweight division, while the co-main event features two former champions trying to prove they still belong at the top of their respective divisions.

UFC Shanghai Preview

The main event between Johnny Walker and Zhang Mingyang represents everything that makes the light heavyweight division so entertaining right now. Walker brings his wild, unpredictable striking style that has produced some of the most spectacular knockouts (including getting KO’d himself) in recent UFC history.

The Brazilian has always been a live wire who can end fights in the blink of an eye, but his inconsistency has kept him from reaching title contention. Zhang Mingyang gets the biggest opportunity of his career fighting in front of his home crowd.

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— Pelunaton (@pelunaton) August 17, 2025

The co-main event originally started as a featherweight bout between Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling, but weight cutting issues forced a change to a 153-pound catchweight fight. Both men are former championship challengers looking to rebuild their careers after recent setbacks. Ortega’s slick submission game will clash with Sterling’s wrestling heavy approach in what should be a technical masterpiece. The five-round co-main treatment shows how much the UFC values this matchup, even with the weight complications.

Sergei Pavlovich returns to action against Waldo Cortes-Acosta in a heavyweight bout that could have serious title implications. Pavlovich was on the verge of a title shot before Tom Aspinall derailed his momentum, and he needs to prove he belongs among the division’s elite. The card also features several Chinese fighters who will have the crowd firmly behind them, including Su Mudaerji, who always brings excitement in the flyweight division.

What Time Does UFC Shanghai Start Tonight?

Here are the start times for UFC Shanghai in several countries:

UFC Shanghai US Start Time (ET)

The prelims will begin at 3:00 AM ET, and the main card at 6:00 AM ET.

UFC Shanghai UK Start Time (BST)

The prelims will begin at 8:00 AM BST, and the main card at 11:00 AM BST.

UFC Shanghai India Start Time (IST)

The prelims will start at 12:30 PM IST. Meanwhile, the main card is at 3:30 PM IST.

UFC Shanghai China Start Time (CST)

The prelims in China will begin at 3:00 PM CST, and the main card at 6:00 PM CST.

UFC Shanghai Brazil Start Time (BRT)

The prelims will start at 4:00 AM BRT, and the main card at 7:00 AM BRT.

UFC Shanghai Saudi Arabia Start Time (AST)

The UFC Shanghai prelims will begin at 10:00 AM AST. The main card will be at 1:00 PM AST.

UFC Shanghai Mexico Start Time (CDT)

The prelims will begin at 2:00 AM CDT, and the main card at 5:00 AM CDT.

UFC Shanghai Russia Start Time (MSK)

The prelims will begin at 10:00 AM MSK, and the main card at 1:00 PM MSK.

UFC Shanghai Canada Start Time (ET)

The prelims will begin at 3:00 AM ET, and the main card at 6:00 AM ET.

Where To Watch UFC Shanghai Today?

Here are the several ways fans can watch UFC Shanghai in several countries:

Where To Watch UFC Shanghai In The United States?

Fans in the U.S. can follow all the action live on ESPN+, which carries both the prelims and the main card. Disney+ will also provide streaming access. Those watching on TV can catch the televised prelims via FX and ESPN News before switching back to ESPN+ for the main event. UFC Fight Pass is another option for subscribers looking to stream.

Where To Watch UFC Shanghai In India?

Indian audiences can stream the fights online through Sony Liv, while the Sony Sports Network broadcasts the full card live for television viewers.

Where To Watch UFC Shanghai In Canada?

Canadian fight enthusiasts can tune into Sportsnet, which will air complete coverage from the early prelims all the way through the headliner.

Where To Watch UFC Shanghai In The UK?

In the UK, TNT Sports continues its partnership with the UFC, offering full live coverage of UFC Shanghai.

Where To Watch UFC Shanghai In Australia?

Australian fans can rely on Kayo Sports, which will stream the entire card from start to finish.

(Image Credit: Jim Dedmon – Imagn Images)

Aljamain Sterling

Brian Ortega

Johnny Walker

Sergei Pavlovich

UFC Shanghai

Zhang Mingyang

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!