Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling are still scheduled to meet at UFC Shanghai but the fight is now being contested as a catchweight contest.
Concerns were raised during the weigh-ins that Ortega was potentially struggling with his cut down to featherweight, which required him to hit 146 pounds for a non-title fight. Ultimately, the UFC opted to change the fight to a 153-pound catchweight matchup, although no official reason was given for the switch.
Both athletes hit the scale at exactly 153 pounds to make the fight official.
It’s a potential prove-it moment for both fighters with Ortega looking to bounce back from a loss to Diego Lopes while Sterling is also attempting to return to the win column after dropping a competitive decision to Movsar Evloev back in December 2024.
Now Ortega and Sterling meet at 153 pounds but the fight is still moving forward as the five-round co-main event
The light heavyweights in the main event didn’t face the same struggles with Johnny Walker coming in at 206 pounds and Zhang Mingyang at 205 pounds. The headliners actually hit the scale rather early in the proceedings as they also prepare to meet in a five-round fight.
The rest of the fighters competing at UFC Shanghai made weight without incident.
Check out the full weigh-in results below:
MAIN EVENT: Johnny Walker (206) vs. Zhang Mingyang (205)
Brian Ortega (153) vs. Aljamain Sterling (153)*
Sergei Pavlovich (255.5) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (262)
Sumudaerji (125.5) vs. Kevin Borjas (126)
Taiyilake Nueraji (170) vs. Kiefer Crosbie (170.5)
Maheshate (155) vs. Gauge Young (155.5)
Lone’er Kavanagh (126) vs. Charles Johnson (126)
Rongzhu (155.5) vs. Austin Hubbard (155.5)
Michel Pereira (186) vs. Kyle Daukaus (185)
Yizha (145) vs. Westin Wilson (146)
Xiao Long (136) vs. SuYoung You (135.5)
Uran Satybaldiev (204) vs. Diyar Nurzgozhay (205.5)
*Fight changed to 153-pound catchweight fight after being originally scheduled at featherweight.
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