UFC Fight Night Walker vs. Zhang 8/23/2025 – 23rd August 2025 Today Show
UFC Fight Night Walker vs. Zhang 23rd August 2025 Today Show
Watch DailyMotion By Parts Show
Watch OK Full Show
Watch OK Full Prelims
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025
- Venue: Shanghai Indoor Stadium, Shanghai, China
Start Times (ET):
- Prelims – 3:00 AM on ESPN+
- Main Card – 6:00 AM on ESPN+
The UFC made its long-awaited return to Shanghai for the first time in eight years, bringing fans a stacked lineup headlined by Johnny Walker and China’s own Zhang Mingyang.
Official Fight Card:
Main Event:
- Light Heavyweight: Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang
Co-Main Event:
- Featherweight (Catchweight 153 lbs): Brian Ortega vs. Aljamain Sterling
Main Card
- Heavyweight: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
- Flyweight: Su Mudaerji vs. Kevin Borjas
- Welterweight: Taiyilake Nueraji vs. Kiefer Crosbie
Prelims:
- Lightweight: Maheshate Hayisaer vs. Gauge Young
- Flyweight: Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Charles Johnson
- Lightweight: Rongzhu vs. Austin Hubbard
- Middleweight: Michel Pereira vs. Kyle Daukaus
- Featherweight: Yizha vs. Westin Wilson
- Bantamweight: Xiao Long vs. SuYoung You
- Light Heavyweight: Uran Satybaldiev vs. Diyar Nurgozhay
Fight Night Highlights:
- Walker vs. Zhang – The main event pitted Walker, looking to rebound from recent setbacks, against the surging Zhang, who entered on a 12-fight knockout streak. The bout carried massive implications for the light heavyweight rankings.
- Ortega vs. Sterling – Originally scheduled as a featherweight clash, Ortega’s weight miss turned it into a 153-lb catchweight battle. Sterling looked sharp against the struggling Ortega, making this one of the most talked-about fights of the evening.
- Pavlovich vs. Cortes-Acosta – Heavyweight power on display, with Pavlovich aiming to re-establish himself among top contenders.
- China’s Rising Stars – Local fighters like Su Mudaerji and Taiyilake Nueraji gained huge crowd support, showcasing the UFC’s growing investment in Asian MMA talent.
Significance:
This event was more than just another Fight Night—it was the UFC’s first show in Shanghai since 2017, making it a milestone for the promotion’s global expansion. The atmosphere inside the Shanghai Indoor Stadium was electric, especially with Zhang Mingyang’s presence in the headliner.
Conclusion:
UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang delivered on every level, combining international star power with a showcase of Chinese MMA talent. With Walker and Zhang battling for light heavyweight momentum, Ortega vs. Sterling providing drama in the co-main, and a mix of prospects across the card, this Shanghai event proved the UFC is committed to building its presence in Asia.