UFC Shanghai delivered fireworks inside the Shanghai Indoor Stadium on August 23, 2025, as Johnny Walker silenced the home crowd with a dramatic stoppage win over China’s own Zhang Mingyang in the main event. The night featured highlight-reel knockouts, dominant decisions, and a clear title contender emerging at featherweight.
Johnny Walker Shocks Zhang Mingyang in the Main Event
Brazilian light heavyweight Johnny Walker (22-9, 1 NC) spoiled Zhang Mingyang’s historic headliner by finishing the Chinese star in the second round. Walker targeted Zhang’s legs early in Round 2, crippling his movement with calf kicks before swarming with punches and elbows to force a stoppage at the 2:37 mark.
Zhang (19-7) entered the fight on a 12-fight win streak and became the first Chinese male fighter to headline a UFC card in mainland China. But the power and unpredictability of Walker proved too much, snapping his momentum in front of a packed home crowd.
“Training is training, fight is fight,” said an emotional Walker. “My kick is awesome, right? Now is the definition of the title fight run. I want Jan Blachowicz next.”
The victory snapped Walker’s three-fight winless skid and put him back in the mix at 205 pounds.
Sterling Dominates Ortega in Co-Main Event
Former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (25-5) looked sharp at featherweight, cruising to a lopsided unanimous decision over Brian Ortega (16-5, 1 NC). All three judges scored the fight 50-45 in Sterling’s favour.
“Funk Master” outlanded Ortega 124-55 in significant strikes, mixed in takedowns late, and controlled the action from start to finish. Ortega, who missed weight badly and forced the fight into a 153-pound catchweight, never found his rhythm and was clearly outclassed over five rounds.
“I think I’ve done enough in this game,” Sterling said post-fight. “Volkanovski is the man, but I want another shot at the title.”
Other Main Card Highlights
- Sergei Pavlovich outworked Waldo Cortes-Acosta to take a hard-fought unanimous decision in a heavyweight clash.
- Su Mudaerji thrilled the home crowd with a clean sweep on the scorecards against Kevin Borjas in a flyweight contest.
- Taiyilake Nueraji scored an emotional first-round TKO over Kiefer Crosbie, finishing with brutal elbows at 3:33 of Round 1.
Preliminary Card Standouts
- Gauge Young defeated Maheshate in a competitive lightweight decision.
- Charles Johnson delivered a knockout of the night candidate, stopping Lone’er Kavanagh with a clean punch in Round 2.
- Kyle Daukaus shocked fans by knocking out Michel Pereira in just 43 seconds of the opening round.
- Yi Zha needed only 37 seconds to dispatch Westin Wilson with a quick flurry at featherweight.
- Uran Satybaldiev secured one of the most unique submissions of the year, catching Diyar Nurgozhay with an Ezekiel choke in Round 1.
Bonus Awards
The UFC handed out four $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses to:
- Johnny Walker
- Charles Johnson
- Kyle Daukaus
- Uran Satybaldiev
No Fight of the Night was awarded.
UFC Shanghai Full Results
Main Card
- Johnny Walker def. Zhang Mingyang — TKO (strikes), R2, 2:37
- Aljamain Sterling def. Brian Ortega — Decision (unanimous), 50-45 x3
- Sergei Pavlovich def. Waldo Cortes-Acosta — Decision (unanimous), 30-27, 29-28, 29-28
- Su Mudaerji def. Kevin Borjas — Decision (unanimous), 30-27 x3
- Taiyilake Nueraji def. Kiefer Crosbie — TKO (elbows), R1, 3:33
Preliminary Card
- Gauge Young def. Maheshate — Decision (unanimous)
- Charles Johnson def. Lone’er Kavanagh — KO (punch), R2, 4:35
- Rong Zhu def. Austin Hubbard — Decision (unanimous)
- Kyle Daukaus def. Michel Pereira — KO (strikes), R1, 0:43
- Yi Zha def. Westin Wilson — KO (punches), R1, 0:37
- You Su-young def. Xiao Long — Decision (unanimous)
- Uran Satybaldiev def. Diyar Nurgozhay — Submission (Ezekiel choke), R1, 2:45
