UFC returns to Shanghai Indoor Stadium after years away, and the audience is already engulfed in plenty of tension. UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang was scheduled on August 23, 2025, and before the fight night even arrived, all the attention focused on the drama that unfolded during weigh-ins.
Ortega’s Weigh-In Trouble
The co-main event bout between Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling nearly fell apart at the weigh-in. Ortega appeared genuinely exhausted, barely standing on his own feet, which prompted serious concerns as to whether he should be given medical clearance to fight at all. Ultimately, the fight got rescheduled to a catchweight of 153 pounds, just to ensure that it remains on the card.
Witnesses believed Ortega shouldn’t even enter the octagon in such a condition. His issue of cutting weight has been recurring for years, but this time the issue appeared to be more serious than ever before. Fighter safety questions again arise.
Sterling’s Frustration
Sterling was also furious on another front. He took exception to UFC making his co-main bout five rounds without offering any additional compensation for it. He even said the move was “kind of stupid” and that only main events or title fights merit five rounds. Nevertheless, he takes it in stride because he is aware this fight is important for both, with a win potentially propelling them back into the title picture.
Main Event: Zhang vs. Walker
JohnnyWalkerr tops the card stand against China’s own Zhang Mingyang. Zhang entered undefeated in UFC, with three first-round knockouts to his name and an equal number of performance bonuses. Walker, though, had been in desperate need of a victory after a losing streak.
Bigger on this headliner was the meaning, UFC obviously making another attempt to breathe life into the light heavyweight division while cementing its position within the Chinese market with Zhang’s ascension.
Fight Predictions
Picks leading up to the event were skewed overwhelmingly in favor of Sterling. Given Ortega’s condition following the weigh-in, insiders believed Sterling had a good shot at finishing him by way of TKO. For the main event, expectations were more divided, but most tipped Walker might take a TKO, with experience allowing him to weather Zhang’s toxic early power.
Other Fights to Watch
Apart from these headline conflicts, supporters also had eyes on the heavyweight bout between Sergei Pavlovich vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta. It held forth a heavy striking war and gave power to the Shanghai card.
Conclusion
UFC Shanghai preview show brought fight week a peculiar level of tension. Ortega’s almost-collapse at weigh-in became the focal point, Sterling vented about UFC choice anger, and Zhang’s homecoming opportunity faced Walker’s need for redemption. With all these stakes piled up, UFC Shanghai set itself up to be one of those cards where fortunes could change.
