International Fight Week is in full swing, but the UFC did not prevent that from announcing some more large fights.
The featherweight division in particular has recently announced a number of huge matchups, with the next challenger for the title of Alexander Volkanovski who may be decided when Movsar Evloev is opposed to Aaron Pico.
Former title -seconder Diego Lopes was confirmed that he was headlining -noche UFC in September, when he accepts the rising Jean Silva now the map has been moved to San Antonio, Texas.
The last announcement of the promotion, via Dana White, saw the top two fights confirmed for the upcoming return of the Octagon to Shanghai.
In the midst of the UFC 317 Fight Week, fans went to social media to complain about one aspect of the latest attacks to be added to the schedule.
Fans complain after Brian Ortega vs Aljamain Sterling has been announced as a Co-Main event under slightly heavyweight collision
With the UFC that returns to Shanghai on August 23, it makes perfect sense for a Chinese hunter to appear on the map in a prominent place.
Fortunately, a new and exciting competitor from this part of the world has recently emerged, with Mingyang Zhang making some noise in light heavyweight.
After he had retired Anthony Smith last April, 'Mountain Tiger' will now be confronted with a new staple from the Division 205 pounds in the #12-ranking Johnny Walker.
With Zhang vs Walker who Headliner's map, the fans in Shanghai will also be treated to a large Co-Main event, because former Bantam weight champion Aljamain Sterling seems to be on the right track when they are confronted with former two-way title publisher, Brian Ortega.
Fans were not only surprised to see this top 10-matchup function on a Fight Night card in China instead of a PPV, many were not happy with seeing both 'Funkmaster' and 'T-City' not received the main event spot about two heavy batters.
“Walker Main Event is shameful about a former champion …”
“Move Ortega vs sterling to UFC 319 immediately it is literally the week before.”
“Ortega vs Aljo is a sick fight, so why is it not on a PPV and Y it is in China.”
“Ortega/Sterling must be the main event.”
'Johnny Walker? 2025? Main event? Real?'
“I mean aljo under Johnny.”
The booking of the Shanghai Card placement of the UFC has positives and negatives
From the point of view of the UFC it is very logical to make Mingyang Zhang the face of their return to Shanghai, where a victory for his home fans could be a big moment for his stock.
The counterpart for this would be that the promotion Brian Ortega vs Aljamain Sterling could move to the main event of a Fight Night card in the United States or on a PPV.
Another disadvantage of this map placement is that one of these fights is much more likely to take advantage of the championship rounds, and it is not the planned main event.
Ortega vs Sterling may not ensure the most explosive end of a card, but it is the kind of matchup that justifies a five -round fight, given the extensive experience of both men at the highest level.