UPDATE: Johnny Walker has delivered a stunning upset, knocking out Zhang Mingyang in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Shanghai early Saturday, October 14, 2023. Just as Zhang’s homecoming party began, Walker ended his two-fight losing streak with a shocking second-round TKO that halted Zhang’s impressive 12-fight winning streak.
The 33-year-old Brazilian fighter showcased resilience against the odds. Zhang dominated the first round, landing powerful shots and forcing Walker into a defensive position. However, Walker regrouped and came out swinging in the second round, implementing a new strategy focused on calf kicks. After landing a crucial kick that visibly impacted Zhang, Walker swiftly capitalized, finishing the fight at 2:37 of the round with ground-and-pound strikes.
“My kick is awesome, right?” Walker exclaimed, addressing the crowd in Shanghai. He praised Zhang’s fighting spirit, stating, “A tough fighter from China, a lot of straight wins. It’s a really good experience to fight a guy that’s very tough.” Walker’s victory raises his record to 22-9, 1 NC, while Zhang falls to 19-7.
In the co-main event, Aljamain Sterling faced Brian Ortega in a highly anticipated featherweight bout. Despite the fight being contested at a 153-pound catchweight due to Ortega’s inability to meet the 146-pound limit, Sterling displayed his dominance, winning by unanimous decision with scores of 50-45 across all judges’ cards. The former bantamweight champion, Sterling, moves to 25-5, while Ortega suffers his second consecutive defeat, dropping his record to 16-5, 1 NC.
The event also featured a heavyweight clash where No. 6 ranked Sergei Pavlovich triumphed over No. 9 Waldo Cortes-Acosta, securing a 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 decision victory. Pavlovich, who has won eight of his last ten fights, continues to climb the ranks following a previous loss to champion Tom Aspinall.
With Walker’s comeback and Sterling’s authoritative performance, UFC Fight Night in Shanghai has set the stage for exciting developments in the UFC landscape. Fans and fighters alike will be watching closely as these athletes look to build on their momentum in upcoming bouts.