Sterling earns unanimous decision victory over Ortega in Co-main event. On Saturday, August 23 at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium, Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling delivered a riveting co-main event clash at UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang. Originally scheduled as a featherweight bout, it became a 153-pound catchweight contest after Ortega struggled with the weight cut. Both men came in with strong profiles, and fans knew they were in for a technical and high-stakes battle.
For Aljamain Sterling, this fight marks an important chapter in his comeback story. Most recently, Sterling faced Movsar Evloev at UFC 310, coming off a lengthy layoff due to injury. Although he displayed his signature heart and skill, he suffered a unanimous decision loss. Known for his elite grappling and relentless pace, Sterling now steps up to catchweight after moving away from the 135-pound division, seeking to showcase improved striking while still relying on his dominant ground game.
Across the cage, Brian Ortega enters with his own need for redemption. Ortega last fought at UFC 306, where he faced rising star Diego Lopes in a high-profile featherweight clash inside in Las Vegas. That night didn’t go his way, as Lopes controlled the action from start to finish, earning a lopsided unanimous decision. For Ortega, a submission specialist with a reputation for toughness, this fight was an opportunity to reset and silence critics questioning his form after recent setbacks.
Sterling made his way into the octagon first then Ortega followed. Round one started with both fighters touching gloves. Sterling wasted no time, peppering Ortega with crisp jabs and hard leg kicks that threw him off balance, one even sent Ortega to the canvas briefly. Ortega managed to get up, but Sterling’s striking accuracy and pace kept him flat-footed. It was Sterling from start to finish for the first round of the five rounds.
Sterling continued his attacks in round 2, more jabs, more leg kicks. Ortega barely landed, and even when he tried an aggressive shot, he couldn’t connect. Sterling landed a solid right that roughed Ortega up, briefly prompting Ortega to claim an eye poke, they were briefly stopped by the referee but it was later ruled a clean shot.
Round 3 started with the two fighters touching gloves again, Ortega tried to light a spark, landing a body kick and starting to throw more. But Sterling kept him at bay with jabs, more leg kicks that again knocked Ortega off balance, and even landed a spinning elbow at the end of the round. Still, Sterling controlled the action.
Round 4 started quite sharp and hard Sterling was in control, Ortega had zero offense. Sterling led with clean strikes and even secured a takedown late in the round, landing strong ground-and-pound. Ortega’s corner tried to spark him, but Sterling simply outclassed him in the round.
The final round came and Ortega attempted a comeback, landing a heavy right and pressuring briefly. He shot for a takedown, but Sterling reversed it with ease. Sterling then earned a takedown of his own, finishing with control and punches from the top. Ortega showed grit, but not enough to win the previous rounds. The official results came and Sterling was declared the winner by a unanimous decision. Sterling ended the fight by calling out featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Check out UFC Shanghai results below:
Main card
Johnny Walker def. Zhang Mingyang via second-round TKO (2:37)
Aljamain Sterling def. Brian Ortega via unanimous decision (50-45 x3)
Sergei Pavlovich def. Waldo Cortes-Acosta via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Sumudaerji def. Kevin Borjas via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Taiyilake Nueraji def. Kiefer Crosbie via first-round TKO (3:33) Illegal knee
Prelims
Gauge Young def. Maheshate via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Charles Johnson def. Lone’er Kavanagh via knockout – Round 2, 4:35
Rongzhu def. Austin Hubbard via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Kyle Daukaus def. Michel Pereira via knockout – Round 1, 0:43
Yizha def. Westin Wilson via knockout – Round 1, 0:37
SuYoung You def. Xiao Long via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Uran Satybaldiev def. Diyar Nurgozhay via submission (Ezekiel Choke) – Round 1, 2:45
