Brian Ortega vs. Aljamain Sterling Fight Now a Catchweight Bout at UFC Shanghai

The highly anticipated matchup between Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling at UFC Shanghai is officially happening, but not at its original weight. The fight, which was scheduled for featherweight (145 lbs), will now be contested at a 153-pound catchweight.

Concerns arose during the official weigh-ins that Ortega was struggling to make the 146-pound non-title limit. While no official reason was given for the change, the UFC opted to make a quick decision to save the fight. Both athletes successfully hit the new 153-pound mark, making the five-round co-main event official.

This is a critical “prove-it” moment for both fighters, who are each looking to bounce back from recent losses. Ortega is aiming to recover from his defeat to Diego Lopes, while Sterling hopes to get back in the win column after a competitive loss to Movsar Evloev last December.

Here’s a look at the weigh-ins and the official announcement from the UFC:

Originally scheduled as a featherweight bout, Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling’s bout will now be contested at a catchweight of 153 pounds.
They both hit the scale at 153 pounds. #UFCShanghai pic.twitter.com/2dNPfFoLoA
— UFC (@ufc) August 22, 2025

UFC Shanghai Weigh-in Results

Unlike the co-main event, the headliners faced no issues with their weight cuts. Light heavyweights Johnny Walker (206 lbs) and Zhang Mingyang (205 lbs) both hit the scale early and on target for their five-round main event.

The rest of the fighters on the card also made weight without incident. Below are the full results: