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

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Two Major Fights Including Headliner Announced For UFC Shanghai!

Two major big name fights announced for the upcoming UFC Shanghai event in China after nearly 8 years!

The UFC has always been obsessed with global expansion. From Brazil’s wild crowds to London’s heated atmosphere, the promotion loves taking its show worldwide. China represents one of the most important untapped markets in combat sports. The country has a massive population and growing interest in mixed martial arts. But breaking into mainland China hasn’t been easy for the UFC.

Getting back to China after nearly eight years away is huge for the UFC’s business strategy. The promotion has been working hard to establish a foothold in Asian markets. They have had success in places like Singapore and Japan, but China remains the ultimate prize. Now they are finally ready to make their return, and they are bringing some serious firepower to make sure everyone pays attention!

Main Event Features Johnny Walker Against Mingyang Zhang

Johnny Walker vs Mingyang Zhang headlines UFC Shanghai on August 23rd at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium. This matchup perfectly captures what makes UFC events so compelling: experience meeting youth, desperation clashing with opportunity. Walker finds himself in a terrible spot right now. He is riding a three-fight losing streak that has seriously damaged his reputation. The Brazilian light heavyweight used to be one of the division’s most exciting prospects, but recent results have been absolutely brutal.

Bringing the HEAT to Shanghai 🔥@JohnnyWalker vs Zhang Mingyang@BrianTCity vs @FunkMasterMMA

[ #UFCShanghai | AUG 23 ] pic.twitter.com/ISsBbCMgKm
— UFC (@ufc) June 26, 2025

Zhang represents everything Walker used to be: young, hungry, and absolutely deadly. The ‘Mountain Tiger’ brings a perfect 12-0 record into this fight, with all victories coming by first-round finish. China’s very own fighter has never needed more than five minutes to end a fight. His most recent performance was particularly impressive, as he ground-and-pounded Anthony Smith into submission back in April. That victory earned him his third straight Performance of the Night bonus, proving he’s not just winning but doing it in spectacular fashion.

Aljamain Sterling And Brian Ortega Battle In The Co-Main Event

The co-main event features two former title challengers trying to rebuild their careers. Aljamain Sterling moves up from bantamweight where he used to be champion. His transition to featherweight has been rocky so far, going 1-1 since making the jump. Sterling’s last fight was a unanimous decision loss to Movsar Evloev at UFC 310 in December, which showed he still has work to do at this new weight class.

Brian Ortega faces even more pressure in this matchup. The submission specialist was once considered one of the division’s elite fighters, but recent years have been rough. He’s lost four of his last six fights, including a disappointing unanimous decision defeat to Diego Lopes at UFC 306 last September.

Both Sterling and Ortega need this victory badly. Sterling wants to prove he belongs at featherweight and can eventually challenge for another title. Ortega needs to show he’s still relevant in a division. The winner gets back into serious contention, while the loser faces questions about their future at the highest level.

(Image Credit: Jim Dedmon – Imagn Images)

Aljamain Sterling

Brian Ortega

Johnny Walker

Mingyang Zhang

UFC Shanghai

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!