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.<\/p>
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. <\/p>
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.<\/p>
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<\/a> history. <\/p> 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.<\/p>