Quick facts
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Event: UFC Fight Night — Walker vs. Zhang
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Date: Saturday, Aug 23, 2025
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Venue: Shanghai Indoor Stadium, Shanghai (China). UFC
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Start times (U.S.): Prelims 3:00 a.m. ET, Main card 6:00 a.m. ET (ESPN+). ESPN Press Room U.S.Yahoo Esportes
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UK: 8:00 a.m. BST prelims / 11:00 a.m. BST main
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Europe: 9:00 a.m. CEST prelims / 12:00 p.m. CEST main
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China local: 3:00 p.m. CST prelims / 6:00 p.m. CST main
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Broadcast: ESPN+ (U.S.); check local listings in your region. ESPN Press Room U.S.
Note: Co-main event Aljamain Sterling vs Brian Ortega is now a 153-lb catchweight after Friday’s weigh-in adjustment; both officially hit 153.0 lb. MMA FightingSportsnet.ca
Full fight card
Main card
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Johnny Walker vs Zhang Mingyang — Light Heavyweight (5 x 5). Tapology
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Aljamain Sterling vs Brian Ortega — Catchweight (153 lb) (5 x 5). Tapology
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Sergei Pavlovich vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta — Heavyweight. ESPN.com
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Su Mudaerji vs Kevin Borjas — Flyweight. ESPN.com
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Taiyilake Nueraji vs Kiefer Crosbie — Welterweight. ESPN.com
Prelims
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Maheshate vs Gauge Young — Lightweight. ESPN.com
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Charles Johnson vs Lone’er Kavanagh — Flyweight. ESPN.com
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Rongzhu vs Austin Hubbard — Lightweight. ESPN.com
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Michel Pereira vs Kyle Daukaus — Middleweight. ESPN.com
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Yizha vs Westin Wilson — Featherweight. ESPN.com
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Xiao Long vs SuYoung You — Bantamweight. ESPN.com
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Uran Satybaldiev vs Diyar Nurgozhay — Light Heavyweight. ESPN.com
(Card & bout order subject to change.)
How to watch
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United States: Live on ESPN+ — prelims 3:00 a.m. ET, main card 6:00 a.m. ET. ESPN Press Room U.S.
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Other regions: Check your local UFC broadcast partner; some territories carry Fight Nights on UFC Fight Pass or regional partners.
What’s new since weigh-ins
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Ortega–Sterling officially moved to 153-lb catchweight after Ortega’s difficult cut; both fighters weighed 153.0 lb and the bout is on. MMA Fighting
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Multiple outlets highlighted the late change and Ortega’s condition at the scale. The Times of IndiaDiario AS
Storylines & keys to victory
Walker vs Zhang — range and durability vs. first-round thunder
Walker brings elite length (6'6", long reach) and explosive kicks/knees; Zhang has been starching foes early and now headlines at home. If Walker manages distance and avoids pocket brawls, his kicks and straight shots can slow Zhang’s entries. If Zhang collapses the space and forces messy exchanges, his power and accuracy become decisive. CBSSports.comMMAmania.com
Sterling vs Ortega — grappling chess in a new weight window
With the 153-lb adjustment, expect higher pace: Sterling thrives on back-takes and control in scrambles; Ortega is lethal with guillotines/triangles off transitions. Clinch entries and cage wrestling will decide who dictates positions in longer exchanges. MMA Fighting
Heavyweights: Pavlovich’s power vs. Waldo’s boxing guard
Pavlovich is favored for finishing ability, but Cortes-Acosta’s high guard and jab can extend minutes. Early cage-cutting from Pavlovich is a tell. ESPN.com
Odds snapshot (day-of, subject to change)
ESPN board shows favorites: Zhang, Sterling, Pavlovich, Nueraji, Yizha among others as of Friday night. Always check your book for updates. ESPN.com
The UFC’s return to mainland China arrives with an explosive local headliner and a high-stakes co-main retooled at 153 lb. Early start times for the West, prime-time for Shanghai — and plenty of divisional ripple effects by Sunday morning. Wikipedia
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Drop your picks: Walker or Zhang? Sterling or Ortega at 153?
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