Key Highlights
- The UFC Shanghai co-main event puts Brian Ortega vs Aljamain Sterling in a big featherweight bout.
- This fight is important for Sterling. He used to be the bantamweight champion, and now he is making his way to the 145-pound division.
- Ortega, who has fought for the title two times, comes into the Octagon with strong submission skills and better striking.
- This bout will last for five rounds, which is not normal for a co-main event. This has made people, especially Sterling, talk about fighter pay and the extra championship rounds.
- It’s a classic crossroads fight. The person who wins will be close to the title. The one who loses may have a hard road ahead.
Introduction
The UFC Shanghai is ready for a big night in China. The main event will host Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling. These two stars will compete in a featherweight matchup. Both Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling have their eyes on a possible title shot. This fight in Shanghai means a lot for them and the UFC.
For Brian Ortega, the time is right to get fit again and try for the belt. For Aljamain Sterling, the fight is his way to show that he can be at the top with the best guys at 145 pounds. The matchup of Ortega and Sterling will have lots of action and skill. Both are fighting when it just matters in Shanghai. All eyes will be on this ufc bout between brian and aljamain in China.
Spotlight on Brian Ortega: Strengths and Recent Form
Brian Ortega, who many know as “T-City,” brings a lot of energy to every fight in the featherweight division. He is one of the fighters people always think about when talking about exciting matches in the octagon. He faces his opponents head-on and can get a submission win even when you do not expect it. This is what makes many fans want to see brian ortega fight.
He has had both good and tough times in his fights lately. Brian had a strong performance when he beat Yair Rodriguez with a submission. But after that, he lost to Diego Lopes by decision. At the upcoming UFC Shanghai MMA event, he will try to remind everyone that he still belongs at the top. This fight is his chance to be steady and prove himself as one of the best in the UFC. Now, let’s see what skills Brian brings each time he steps into the UFC cage in Shanghai.
Submission Game and Key Attributes
Ortega is well known in the UFC for how good he is at submissions. This skill is a big part of what makes him a strong fighter. A lot of people say his guillotine choke is the most dangerous one in the UFC. It can end a fight very quickly, even when it looks like he is not winning at that moment. When other fighters try grappling with him, they know they might get caught. He can move around easily and looks out for his chance to use a hold and finish the fight. In his pro MMA time, half of his wins came from getting a submission.
Ortega was first known for jiu-jitsu. But he really put in the work to improve his boxing. Now, his boxing style is more smart and careful. You see this if you look at his strong win over The Korean Zombie. This change in ortega’s boxing means he is a threat when he strikes and also when grappling. You can’t look past him anywhere in the fight.
Many people in the UFC say that Ortega is tough. He is known for fighting hard and not giving up, no matter how challenging things get.
- Lethal Submissions: Ortega is great at grappling and has put many fighters in tough spots. He got big wins against Cub Swanson and Renato Moicano by making them tap out.
- Improved Striking: Ortega’s boxing looked strong when he got a fast knockout win over Frankie Edgar. This shows he does more than just work on the ground.
- Durability and Heart: Ortega took hits from champions like max holloway and Alexander Volkanovski. He kept fighting the whole time and showed he has a lot of heart and toughness.
Performance Highlights Leading Up to UFC Shanghai
Brian Ortega’s recent form shows he is a fighter who always takes on the top names in the division. Brian has many bonus-winning performances to his name. He often stands out on fight night. In his rematch with Yair Rodriguez, Ortega showed a strong performance. He started slow, but came back later to win with a third-round submission. This fight is one of the best examples of how Brian Ortega can get the win even when things do not go well at the start.
He has faced tough times against some of the best fighters out there. He lost matches to Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski, who are both former champions. Even though he worked hard and got Fight of the Night honors, these losses showed there are still things to work on. His latest defeat by Diego Lopes makes people wonder if he can stay steady. He will want to prove himself when he gets into the ring in Shanghai.
This fight is an important chance for him. He wants to start winning again and try for the title one more time.
| Opponent | Result | Method | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diego Lopes | Loss | Unanimous Decision | 3 |
| Yair Rodriguez | Win | Arm-Triangle Choke | 3 |
| Yair Rodriguez | Loss | TKO (Injury) | 1 |
| A. Volkanovski | Loss | Unanimous Decision | 5 |
| The Korean Zombie | Win | Unanimous Decision | 5 |
Aljamain Sterling’s Featherweight Transition and Mindset
After being the best at UFC as the Bantamweight Champion, Aljamain Sterling, also known as the “Funk Master,” moved to the featherweight division when he lost to Sean O’Malley. He is known for strong wrestling in the ring. Now, at 145 pounds, he gets new challenges. In the featherweight group, he has had one win over Calvin Kattar and one loss to Movsar Evloev.
His way of thinking is clear. You can see that he wants to win in this new challenge. Sterling often says his career means a lot to him. He talks about how every fight matters. He wants to get another world title before he stops fighting. Taking on a tough and skilled featherweight like Ortega is the test he needs for his dream to be champion again.
Challenges Facing Ortega and Sterling’s Strategic Approach
The plan for this main event fight is something people talk about a lot. Many want to see if Sterling’s good wrestling and strong control when he is on your back make it hard for Ortega to use his skills to finish people on the ground. Sterling has long arms and a way of grappling that gives other fighters problems. But getting on the mat with Ortega can be a risk you take. Ortega has not lost by someone making him tap out since he became a pro, and this makes him dangerous in any fight where grappling and wrestling are important.
When they stand up, Sterling likes to use boxing to move in close. He tries to start clinches or go for takedowns. He has to be careful though. Ortega has better boxing and more power in his hands. Both fighters have to handle the pace, because going through five championship rounds at featherweight is tough. At a big UFC event in Shanghai, one mistake on the ground can end the fight for either one of them.
The way they each want to win matters the most.
- Wrestling vs. Submissions: Sterling uses wrestling most of the time, but when he tries to take down Brian Ortega, he runs into Brian’s main strength.
- Adapting to Five Rounds: Both fighters know how hard it is to go all five rounds in a main event. Sterling has said that even going through a co-main event takes a lot out of him.
- New Division Dynamics: Sterling has to prove that what has worked for him in the past will work now against Ortega, who is well known in the featherweight division for finishing fights. [Source: Gambling News]
Sterling’s Reaction to Five-Round Co-Main Event Decision
The move to make this bout last five rounds did not make Aljamain Sterling feel good. A five-round fight is usually for the main event, or when there is a belt on the line. The pay rate is often higher for these fights, because they ask more from the people in the ring. Aljamain is upset that he has to train for ten extra minutes of fighting, but will not get more money for doing it.
This shows a problem in MMA with fighter pay. To get ready for a five-round fight, you have to spend more days at the gym. You also have to work harder to last inside the ring. Sterling thinks he is doing what you do for a main event or a title fight. But he will not get paid for that kind of job.
The way things are before the bout makes the story feel more interesting. It gets us to think about what will push him in this fight. We also wonder how the extra time in the bout might change his plan. The added rounds may help Sterling if he likes to work hard and wear people down. But, it could also give Ortega more chances to win.
Fight Card Position, Date, and Fan Reactions
This big bout will be the co-main event for the UFC Fight Night set on August 23, 2025. The main event will happen in Shanghai, at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium in China. This UFC card is a big deal, as it marks the company’s important return to China.
Online, many people feel good about the fight. A lot of fans like that this match was set up. Sterling brings strong wrestling to the table. Ortega has tough jiu-jitsu skills. The mix of wrestling and grappling skills has a lot of people talking, including analysts and fans. They say this fight between Sterling and Ortega could be the “Fight of the Night.”
Official Placement and Event Details
The official event details say that this fight is the co-main event at UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang. It will happen on Saturday, August 23, 2025. The event will be live from Shanghai, China. If you are in the United States, you can watch the main card on ESPN+ at 6 PM ET or 3 PM PT. Get ready to see Walker, Zhang, and all the big fights at this UFC Fight Night in China on ESPN this August.
This fight comes before the light heavyweight main event between Johnny Walker and Zhang Mingyang. It shows just how important this matchup is. There are many other good fights on the card, but the Ortega vs. Sterling bout really stands out. Both names bring a lot of attention, and the stakes are high in the featherweight division.
Here is a look at the confirmed main card lineup.
| Fight | Division | Main/Co-Main |
|---|---|---|
| Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang | Light Heavyweight | Main Event |
| Brian Ortega vs. Aljamain Sterling | Featherweight | Co-Main Event |
| Reinier de Ridder vs. Anthony Hernandez | Middleweight | Main Card |
| Additional Fights TBD | Various | Main Card |
Online Community Response and Expert Predictions
The online community is talking a lot about this bout. You can see people on forums and social media telling others what they think. The fans are not all on the same side. Some say sterling and his wrestling will help him control the bout. Others feel ortega can use his power and get a submission or a knockout, and that might let him win over sterling.
People want to see if there will be a big knockout or if someone will choose submission in this bout. The excitement for the featherweight match is high. Everyone is ready to find out what will happen next.
Expert opinions say this bout is close. Many give a slight edge to the natural featherweight in the ring. Some people feel brian ortega will win. They like how brian uses good striking and know he can take a hit. This could help brian to get the win against sterling when they meet in this bout.
Here’s how the community is seeing the fight:
- Divided Fanbase: The fans are split. Some back Sterling because they like his wrestling. Others feel Ortega’s finish could win him the bout.
- Fight of the Night Buzz: A lot of people say the way brian and Sterling use wrestling and power might help this bout become the best of the night. Their different moves get them and us excited for this clash.
- Analyst Insights: Many experts in MMA think Ortega has more power. He is able to take hits and keep fighting. This can give him the edge to win the bout if it’ s close.
Conclusion
As we get ready for the main event between Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling, you can feel the excitement building. Many people can’t wait to see this fight. The matchup between Brian and Aljamain looks like it will be something special. Ortega has great submission skills and he is known for being very tough. Sterling is moving up to the featherweight group, which makes this main event even more interesting for all of us.
This main event could be a big moment in their careers. So make sure you don’t miss it. Come watch as Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling step into the spotlight. Be part of the talk and stay up-to-date on all the fight predictions, expert ideas, and news as we get closer to this big matchup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is favored to win between Brian Ortega vs Aljamain Sterling?
The fight looks like it will be close. A few experts think Brian Ortega could win. He hits hard and ends fights well at featherweight. Because of this, he might have a small advantage. But Aljamain Sterling is strong in wrestling, and he will be hard to beat even though some see him as the underdog.
Why might the five-round format impact this co-main event?
The five-round format adds championship rounds, so both fighters need good cardio to handle it. They will get extra minutes of fighting, but they do not get the higher pay rate that comes with a main event. This has made Aljamain Sterling feel upset as he gets ready for the co-main event. Aljamain Sterling believes that fighting those extra minutes in championship rounds should mean better pay, just like you get for a main event.
What are Aljamain Sterling’s thoughts on facing Brian Ortega?
Aljamain Sterling sees the fight with Brian Ortega as an important challenge in the featherweight division. He is focused on showing people that he can take on the best guys in this group. Aljamain knows Ortega is tough and can be hard to beat, but Sterling feels good about his own way of fighting. He thinks his style will help him get the win.