Rising contender Zhang Mingyang is confirmed to headline a significant upcoming UFC event.
UFC CEO Dana White recently announced the promotion`s planned return to Shanghai, China. The event is slated to take place on August 23rd at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium. The card will be topped by a light heavyweight clash featuring local favorite Zhang Mingyang against seasoned contender Johnny Walker.
Known widely as “The Mountain Tiger,” Zhang Mingyang has rapidly made his presence felt since joining the UFC ranks last year. He has secured three consecutive victories, all coming by way of first-round knockout, each performance also earning him a bonus. His most recent triumph was an emphatic finish over former title challenger Anthony Smith in April at UFC Kansas City, a fight that marked Smith`s retirement from professional mixed martial arts.
Conversely, Johnny Walker enters this headlining bout aiming to bounce back from a two-fight losing streak in 2024, both losses coming via stoppage. Earlier this year, Walker was scheduled to face Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 316 but was forced to withdraw from the contest due to injury.
The co-main event for the Shanghai card will feature a compelling featherweight matchup between former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and two-time featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega. Sterling is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Movsar Evloev at UFC 310. Similarly, Ortega`s last appearance at UFC 306 resulted in a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Diego Lopes.
