For the first time in years, the UFC returns to mainland China in their first major event since UFC 319.
After the collision between Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus du Plessis, UFC Shanghai has seen his first trip to Shanghai since 2017, with a hero in the city fighting in the main event.
The Chinese hunter Zhang Mingyang Headlines against Johnny Walker in a slight heavyweight battle, in an attempt to rise further and to a potentially future title shot.
The “Mountain Tiger” has been unbeaten since his debut in 2024, and Mingyang last beat Anthony Smith via TKO to extend his UFC record to 3-0.
He faced the favorite fan favorite Brazilian Walker, who wants to bounce back from two consecutive losses in his first fight in more than a year.
Here is everything you need to know about UFC Shanghai.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
What time is UFC Shanghai?
UFC Shanghai takes place in the Shanghai Indoor Stadium in Shanghai, China, on August 23.
The event is set to start with the Prelims at 3:00 am (ET), 12:00 AM (PT) and 8:00 AM (BST).
After this the main map starts at 6:00 am (et), 3:00 am (PT) and 11:00 am (BST).
How to watch and stream UFC Shanghai?
In the US, both the Prelims and the main map of the event will be available to view on ESPN and ESPN+ from 3:00 am.
In the United Kingdom, fans can view the prelims from 8:00 am through the UFC Fight Pass before they switch to TNT sports for the coverage of the main map from 11:00 am.
UFC Shanghai – Who fights?
Main map
- Light heavyweight: Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang
- Featherweight: Brian Ortega vs. Aljamain sterling
- Heavyweight: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
- Flying weight: Su Mudaerji vs. Kevin Borjas
- Welterweight: Taiyilake Nuerraji vs. Kiefer Crosbie
Prelims
- Lightweight: Maheshate Hayisaer versus Gauge Young
- Flying weight: Lone'er Kavanagh vs. Charles Johnson
- Lightweight: Rong Zhu vs. Austin Hubbard
- Middleweight: Michel Pereira vs. Kyle Dauaus
- Featherweight: Yi Zha vs. Westin Wilson
- Bantam weight: Xiao Long vs. You Su-Young
- Light heavyweight: Uran Satybaldiev vs. DIYAR NURGOZHAY
Brian Ortega vs Aljamain Sterling is controversially only the co-main event of the competition.
Although Mingyang vs Walker is the most important event of UFC Shanghai, there is a much larger fight to go for them.
Fans have responded poorly to Brian Ortega vs Aljamain Sterling, only the Co-Main event, because their featherweight collision could have much larger implications for a future title shot.
Ortega and Sterling are arranged #4 and #7 respectively, and a victory for both can continue the map and go to a title shot on the title of Alexander Pantoja.
However, it is clear that because of his nationality, Mingyang is in the main event and returns to China to fight for the first career for the UFC.