Walker’s Wreckage and Sterling’s Statement: UFC Fight Night Shanghai
Chaos, Comebacks, and Controversy: UFC Fight Night Delivered It All
It was a familiar sight for Johnny Walker but in Shanghai the roles where reversed.
Johnny Walker came to the UFC as an explosive finisher with the world for his taking. Inconsistent performances highlighted by a reckless that made fans adore him but also coast him. Two-thirds of his career losses of come by knockout.
Learning from the stumbles and disappointments that have pledged an incredibly promising start to his UFC career. Walker seized a moment built for Zhang Mingyang.
Twelve first round finishes in a row and a 3-0 start to his UFC career. A Fight Night marquee in his home country, this was Zhang’s opportunity for a break out moment.
Instead Johnny Walker showed he’s not the same impulsive fighter he’s been. Absorbing Mingyang aggression and attacking his opponent tactfully instead of with head on brut force.
Johnny Walker’s explosive opening nearly spelled disaster as his attempted low double was stuffed by Zhang, who reversed into top position. Walker scrambled back to his feet, and as Zhang pressed forward, both fighters landed heavy shots, each demanding respect from the other’s power. In the second round, Walker halted Zhang’s momentum with brutal calf kicks that dropped the Chinese fighter. With Zhang unable to rise, Walker sealed the deal with a ground-and-pound finish.
In the co-main event, former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling faced perennial contender Brian Ortega in a 153-pound catchweight bout after Ortega missed the featherweight limit.
Sterling used his speed and constant lateral movement to frustrate the plodding Ortega early, peppering him with counter overhands and hooks. The grappling strategy came only once Ortega’s gas tank had depleted. It was a dominant performance that showcased Sterling’s discipline, strategy, and ability to block out distractions while navigating a dangerous opponent.
Sergei Pavlovich earned his second consecutive decision win by out-slugging Waldo Cortes-Acosta in a gritty kickboxing battle. Pavlovich controlled the pace with forward pressure, holding his #3 heavyweight ranking. Cortes-Acosta, ranked #6, showed grit in absorbing Pavlovich’s best shots but failed to mount a meaningful offense in return.
Sumudaerji’s extended fingers might have earned him two warnings, but Kevin Borjas’s lack of aggression told the bigger story. Borjas’s tentative approach allowed Sumudaerji to control range, stuff takedowns, and pick his shots, cruising to a decision behind a steady low-kick attack.
Controversy erupted in Taiyilake Nueraji’s UFC debut as he secured a first-round TKO over Keifer Crosbie—albeit with a major asterisk. After a quick takedown, Crosbie attempted to rise only to eat an illegal knee to the face. A two-point deduction was issued, and the fight continued. Moments later, a compromised Crosbie was tripped and finished by elbows. The win stands, but the ending was unsatisfactory.
Gauge Young notched his first UFC win with a unanimous decision over Maheshate. Young’s volume and variety—mixing combinations and takedowns—overwhelmed Maheshate, who couldn’t land his trademark power counters.
Charles Johnson retained his flyweight ranking and handed Lone’er Kavanagh his first loss in a veteran masterclass. Kavanagh started fast, but Johnson’s pressure wore him down. A critical mistake—exiting the pocket with his hands low—set up a flush right hook that sent Kavanagh crashing down for a second-round knockout.
China’s Rongzhu made it back-to-back wins by outpointing Austin Hubbard. Though Hubbard landed two takedowns, he couldn’t capitalize. On the feet, Rongzhu’s speed and low kicks were the difference, keeping Hubbard at bay and swaying the judges.
After more than two years away, Kyle Daukaus returned to the UFC with a statement win. He dropped Michel Pereira with a crisp counter left and finished the job with elbows on the ground. It marked Daukaus’s second career knockout and sent Pereira to his third straight loss.
As expected, heavy favorite Yizha (-1200) stormed through Westin Wilson in just 37 seconds. A barrage of overhand lefts dropped Wilson early. Though he got back to his feet, a right-left combo ended things decisively.
Despite a late rally by Xiao Long, Suyoung You’s strong start earned him the nod on the scorecards. The Road to UFC winner moved to 3-0 in the promotion, frustrating the crowd but preserving his perfect record.
In the night’s final bout, Uran Satybaldiev made a successful return to light heavyweight with a rare first-round Ezekiel choke finish over Diyar Nirgozhay. After rocking Nirgozhay with a lead right, Satybaldiev narrowly missed a Kimura but transitioned smoothly to the choke—earning a highlight-reel submission for his second UFC outing.
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