Sun Jun 29 00:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Former Champ Sterling Faces Ortega in Featherweight Showdown at UFC Shanghai
**Shanghai, China -** A high-stakes featherweight clash between former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain “Funk Master” Sterling and perennial contender Brian “T-City” Ortega will serve as the co-main event for UFC Fight Night on August 23rd in Shanghai, officials announced Wednesday. The event marks the UFC’s return to Shanghai for the first time since 2017.
Sterling (24-5), looking to solidify his position as a potential title challenger in the 145-pound division, will face a seasoned veteran in Ortega (16-4) who is aiming to reignite his career after a mixed recent record.
Sterling’s featherweight journey began with a victory over Calvin Kattar but suffered a setback in a loss to Movsar Evloev last December. This fight against Ortega provides a crucial opportunity to prove his viability in the new weight class.
Ortega, a longtime fixture in the featherweight division, has twice challenged for the UFC title against former champions Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski but has come up short. He’s currently 1-3 in his last four fights and will be looking to bounce back after a layoff since last September.
The main event will showcase rising Chinese light heavyweight prospect Zhang Mingyang (19-6) against experienced veteran Johnny Walker (21-9). Zhang, 26, is coming off a significant first-round knockout victory over Anthony Smith in April and will be headlining his first UFC event in front of his home crowd.
The UFC Fight Night card promises an action-packed night of fights, headlined by local talent and featuring intriguing matchups in the featherweight division.
First Piper 