Rising contender Zhang Mingyang is stepping into the main event spotlight. UFC CEO Dana White recently announced the promotion`s upcoming event in Shanghai, scheduled for August 23rd at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium. The card will be headlined by a light heavyweight bout featuring Zhang Mingyang taking on Johnny Walker.
Known as “The Mountain Tiger,” Zhang made a significant impact since his UFC debut last year, securing three consecutive first-round knockout victories. Each of these dominant performances also earned him a performance bonus. His most recent win was a decisive stoppage over veteran Anthony Smith in April.
Johnny Walker, meanwhile, is looking to regain momentum after suffering two consecutive stoppage losses earlier in 2024. He was also forced to withdraw from a previously scheduled fight at UFC 316 due to injury, adding to his recent setbacks.
The co-main event promises an exciting featherweight clash between former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and former two-time featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega. Sterling is coming off a unanimous decision defeat in his featherweight debut against Movsar Evloev at UFC 310. Similarly, Ortega is also seeking a return to the win column after dropping a unanimous decision to Diego Lopes at UFC 306.
