The UFC returns to China after a three-year hiatus with a blockbuster event on Saturday, August 23. Headlining the UFC Shanghai Fight Night are potent finishers Johnny Walker and rising Chinese star Zhang Mingyang.
This UFC fight card is stacked with rising Asian prospects who are looking to make a name for themselves at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium in Xuhui District, China, with the UFC Shanghai main card starting at 6 a.m. ET.
We’ll break down our UFC Shanghai predictions and expert picks for every fight on the main card on Saturday morning, including our Walker vs. Zhang prediction, PrizePicks UFC picks, and start times for Saturday’s historic event in Shanghai.
Go straight to our UFC Shanghai predictions here, including PrizePicks UFC predictions for every main card fight tonight.
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UFC Shanghai: Walker vs. Zhang Preview
UFC Shanghai may not have a ton of household names on it other than Aljamain Sterling, Brian Ortega, Johnny Walker, and Sergei Pavlovich. However, if you don’t know the rest of these fighters, you sure will by the end of this UFC Fight Night card.
At the top of the bill is the light heavyweight clash between Walker and Zhang. Fight fans – especially Chinese fans – have been clamoring for this fight ever since it was announced.
Co-headlining UFC Shanghai is a five-round featherweight matchup between Aljamain Sterling and Brian Ortega. These two are looking to make up some ground in the stacked featherweight division and push toward a title shot.
If you like to watch some of the best UFC fighters with your coffee in the morning, then you’re going to love the start time for the UFC Shanghai main card.
The UFC Shanghai: Walker vs. Zhang main card is set to start at 6 a.m. ET, with the Walker vs. Zhang main event expected to start around 8:00 a.m. ET.
We’ll preview who’s fighting and break down the main card in UFC Shanghai: Walker vs. Zhang, including our staff picks and PrizePicks picks for the electric card.
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Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang Prediction & Preview
Who would’ve thought Johnny Walker (21-9) would be headlining an event in 2025, coming off back-to-back brutal knockout losses? The UFC is giving the No. 13-ranked light heavyweight a chance to right the ship and get back into their good graces.
Unfortunately, to do so, he’s got to go through China’s Zhang Mingyang in front of a home crowd.
Zhang Mingyang (19-6) has hit the ground running in his UFC career, winning all three of his fights inside the octagon. None of his opponents lasted the full five minutes, even finishing Anthony Smith in his retirement fight in the first round.
This is certainly a dangerous fight for Walker at this stage of his career, coming off two brutal knockout losses. That doesn’t mean Walker is a pushover by any means. He’s got the power to put Zhang’s lights out, and he has an underrated grappling game that could be his path to victory.
Zhang’s coming-out party could very well be this Saturday in Shanghai, China. An emphatic win over a gatekeeper like Walker will catapult his UFC light heavyweight career.
Zhang has the power to replicate what Volkan Oezdemir and Magomed Ankalaev did in their previous two fights. However, he can’t underestimate Walker, or he could end up looking up at the bright lights at the end of the fight.
In this main event, it’ll come down to who wants it more. Will Walker redeem himself and turn the tide on the hometown favorite? Or will Zhang continue his historic rise in front of his home crowd at UFC Shanghai?
Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang Prediction & Picks
Find Walker vs. Zhang predictions for UFC Shanghai on the PrizePicks MMA board below from Playbook’s UFC staff writers – Garrett Kerman and Ryelan Jones.
Garrett’s Prediction: Walker 14.5 Significant Strikes
- Johnny Walker’s average fight time is 6:43
- Johnny Walker lands 3.87 significant strikes per minute
- Johnny Walker lands 53% of his strikes
- Johnny Walker has landed at least 14 significant strikes in each of his last five fights
- Zhang Mingyang absorbs 4.55 significant strikes per minute
- Two of Zhang Mingyang’s opponents have landed at least 14 significant strikes against him
Ryelan’s Prediction: Walker vs. Zhang – Fight Time 4.75 Minutes
- Zhang's average Fight Time is 3:02.
- 2 of Walker's last 3 wins have come in the 1st Round.
- All of Zhang’s 19 wins have come in the 1st Round.
- 10 of Walker’s UFC fights have ended within 5 minutes.
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Aljamain Sterling vs. Brian Ortega Prediction & Preview
Aljamain Sterling (24-5) has had some mixed results since his move up to the featherweight division. He’s now 1-1 in his new weight class and coming off a closely contested loss to the undefeated Movsar Evloev.
Brian Ortega (16-4) hasn’t been quite as active as we’ve seen in years past. This is his first fight of 2025, and he’s just 1-3 in his last four fights. His most recent fight was a one-sided beatdown by Diego Lopes at UFC 306.
Sterling’s move to 145 pounds was long overdue, as he was killing himself to make 135 pounds. Even though he’s just 1-1 since the move up in weight, he’s looked the best he’s looked in a while.
What Sterling showed in his grappling against another high-level grappler, like Evloev, proved that this is going to be a tough fight for Ortega.
However, we still know what Ortega is capable of — does that Alexander Volkanovski choke ring a bell?
It’s still perplexing that the UFC tried making Ortega fight again at 145 pounds. After a scare at weigh-ins for Ortega, the UFC has made the fight a catchweight at 153 pounds. This certainly could hinder his performance when he’s stuck fighting a grappler that’s going to put the pace on him.
This style matchup makes for an interesting fight between Sterling's wrestling and Ortega’s jiu-jitsu.
The entire UFC community will be watching and asking will Sterling’s pace be too much for Ortega at this stage of his career, or will Ortega catch him in a submission and shock the world?
Aljamain Sterling vs. Brian Ortega Prediction & Picks
Find Sterling vs. Ortega predictions for UFC Shanghai on the PrizePicks MMA board below from Playbook’s UFC staff writers.
Garrett’s Prediction: Sterling vs. Ortega – 2.5 Total Rounds
- Aljamain Sterling’s average fight time is 13:22.
- Brian Ortega’s average fight time is 12:57.
- Aljamain Sterling has been in 12 of his 21 UFC fights.
- Brian Ortega has been to round four in four out of his last six fights.
Ryelan’s Prediction: Sterling – 3.5 Takedowns
- Sterling has landed 5+ takedowns in both of his featherweight bouts.
- Ortega has 56% takedown defense.
- Ortega has an average fight time of 12:57.
- Sterling has an average fight time of 13:22.
Sergei Pavlovich vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta Prediction & Picks
Sergei Pavlovich (19-3) was looking like the next UFC heavyweight champion until he ran into Tom Aspinall. Since that interim title loss, he’s split each of his last two fights, most recently getting the nod against Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta (14-1) has been one of the more surprising heavyweights on the roster. He’s rattled off five straight wins after suffering his first professional defeat to Marcos Rogerio de Lima.
Pavlovich let his presence be known when he got six first-round knockouts. While he has a background in Greco-Roman wrestling, his power is the difference maker.
Cortes-Acosta, on the other hand, while he does possess fight-ending power himself, he’s more about finesse with his footwork, head movement, and slick boxing. He has shown he can stand in there and trade, but his back work is done in space.
This could end up being a fight where whoever lands first wins. Will it be Pavlovich’s power and pressure that gets it done, or Cortes-Acosta’s footwork and slick boxing skills that will have “Salsa Boy” dancing his way to victory?
Pavlovich vs. Cortes-Acosta Predictions & PrizePicks
Find Sergei Pavlovich vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta predictions for UFC Shanghai on the PrizePicks MMA board below from Playbook’s UFC staff writers.
Garrett’s Prediction: Waldo Cortes-Acosta – 1.5 Total Rounds (Goblin)
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta's average fight time is 11:50
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta has 7 wins by decision
- Three out of Waldo Cortes-Acosta’s last four fights have gone the distance
- Sergei Pavlovich has gone to a decision in back-to-back fights
Ryelan’s Prediction: 70.5 Significant Strikes (Combo)
- Pavlovich landed 45 or more Significant Strikes in his last two bouts.
- Acosta lands 5.98 Significant Strikes per minute.
- Pavlovich landed 4.54 Significant Strikes per minute.
- Acosta has an average Fight Time of 11:50.
Su Mudaerji vs. Kevin Borjas Prediction & Picks
Su Mudaerji (17-7) “The Tibetan Eagle” gets to fight in front of his home crowd for the first time in six years this weekend. The flyweight is just 1-3 in his last four fights, but put on his best performance his last time out, where he defeated Mitch Raposo via split decision.
Kevin Borjas (10-3) is a product of the Contender Series, where he got the dominant win to secure his UFC contract. He is just 1-2 in his UFC career, but is coming off his best performance, dominating Ronald Rodriguez throughout a three-round affair.
Su Mudaerji is an explosive striker who has yet to be outstruck in terms of output in his UFC career. His biggest glaring weakness has been his grappling and submission defense, as he’s been submitted three times in his eight-fight UFC career.
Borjas is a forward-aggressive striker who’s always looking to get into a brawl with his opponent. Sometimes he’s had success doing so, like his wins against Rodriguez and Victor Dias, but in others, it was at his demise.
This fight is expected to bring the fireworks from start to finish. It’s going to come down to: will Su Mudaerji’s speed and volume be too much, or will the pressure and power of Borjas be the difference maker in this matchup?
Mudaerji vs. Borjas Predictions & PrizePicks
Find Su Mudaerji vs. Kevin Borjas predictions for UFC Shanghai on the PrizePicks MMA board below from Playbook’s UFC staff writers.
Garrett’s Prediction: Mudaerji vs. Borjas – 130.5 Significant Strikes (Combo)
- Su Mudaerji lands 4.40 significant strikes per minute.
- Su Mudaerji’s average fight time is 10:10.
- Kevin Borjas lands 5.10 significant strikes per minute.
- Kevin Borjas’ average fight time is 12:54.
- Kevin Borjas absorbs 5.99 significant strikes per minute.
- Kevin Borjas has seen at least 130 significant strikes in three of his last four fights.
Ryelan’s Prediction: Mudaerji – 68.5 Significant Strikes
- Borjas absorbs 5.99 Significant Strikes per minute.
- Borjas has not landed a Takedown in the UFC.
- 3 of 4 UFC defeats for Mudaerji have come by submission.
- Mudaerji lands 4.40 Significant Strikes per minute.
Taiyilake Nueraji vs. Kiefer Crosbie Prediction & Picks
Taiyilake Nueraji (11-1) is among the most promising prospects from the Chinese MMA regional scene. Nueraji, who is well-known for his precision and power, performs best when he can control the tempo and hold opponents at the end of his punches.
He comes into this fight with a lot of momentum and hopes to build on his most recent victory — featuring his signature offensive bursts along with increased patience and poise.
Kiefer Crosbie (10-4), the Irish veteran, brings a wealth of big-stage experience to this matchup. Having competed in Bellator and elsewhere before making the UFC walk, Crosbie is a pressure-heavy striker who carries real knockout power.
Corsbie is tough, gritty, and unafraid to bite down on his mouthpiece and make fights ugly if it means dragging his opponent into deep waters.
If Nueraji can stay disciplined and avoid the brawling exchanges Crosbie excels in, he could outwork the veteran over three rounds. But if Crosbie closes the distance and draws him into a firefight, things could turn in an instant.
So the question is – will Nueraji’s sharp technique shine, or will Crosbie’s relentless pressure break through?
Nueraji vs. Crosbie Predictions for UFC Shanghai
Find Sergei Pavlovich vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta predictions for UFC Shanghai on the PrizePicks MMA board below from Playbook’s UFC staff writers.
Garrett’s Prediction: Nueraji vs. Crosbie – 40.5 Significant Strikes (Combo)
- Kiefer Crosbie's average fight time is 3:50
- Taiyilake Nueraji’s average fight time is 6:38
- Taiyilake Nueraji lands 11.01 significant strikes per minute
- Kiefer Crosbie lands 6.27 significant strikes per minute
Ryelan’s Prediction: Nuejari vs. Crosbie – Fight Time 5 Minutes
- Crosbie has not made it out of the first round in the UFC.
- Nuejari lands 11.01 significant strikes per minute.
- Nuejari has 4 wins in under 2 minutes.
- 5-of-7 of Crosbie's career finishes have come in the 1st Round.
UFC Shanghai: Walker vs. Zhang: Start Times & Projections
UFC Shanghai: Walker vs. Zhang main card will start at 6 a.m. ET on Saturday, August 23, while the Walker vs. Zhang main event is expected to start around 8 a.m. ET — based on the outcomes of the fights prior.
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Here’s the UFC Shanghai: Walker vs Zhang main card schedule and fighter projections for every main card fight today.
Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang – Main Event
- Light Heavyweight
- Expected start time: 8 a.m. ET
- Johnny Walker Projections: 14.5 Significant Strikes, 0.5 Takedowns
- Zhang Mingyang Projections: 20.5 Significant Strikes, 0.5 Takedowns
- Significant Strikes (Combo): 35.5
- Fight Time Projection: 4.75 Minutes
- Rounds Projection: 1.5 Total Rounds
Aljamain Sterling vs. Brian Ortega – Co-Main Event
- Featherweight
- Expected start time: 7:30 a.m. ET
- Aljamain Sterling Projections: 94.5 Significant Strikes, 3.5 Takedowns
- Brian Ortega Projections: 57.5 Significant Strikes
- Significant Strikes (Combo): 153.5
- Rounds Projection: 2.5 Total Rounds (Goblin)
Sergei Pavlovich vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
- Heavyweight
- Expected start time: 7 a.m. ET
- Sergei Pavlovich Projections: 35.5 Significant Strikes, 0.5 Takedowns (Demon)
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta Projections: 34.5 Significant Strikes, 0.5 Takedowns
- Significant Strikes (Combo): 70.5
- Fight Time Projection: 8.75 Minutes
- Rounds Projection: 1.5 Total Rounds (Goblin)
Su Mudaerji vs. Kevin Borjas
- Flyweight
- Expected start time: 6:30 a.m. ET
- Su Mudaerji Projections: 68.5 Significant Strikes, 0.5 Takedowns
- Kevin Borjas Projections: 61.5 Significant Strikes, 0.5 Takedowns
- Significant Strikes (Combo): 130.5
- Rounds Projection: 1.5 Total Rounds
Taiyilake Nueraji vs. Kiefer Crosbie
- Welterweight
- Expected start time: 6 a.m. ET
- Taiyilake Nueraji Projections: 23.5 Significant Strikes, 0.5 Takedowns (Demon)
- Kiefer Crosbie Projections: 16.5 Significant Strikes
- Significant Strikes (Combo): 40.5 Significant Strikes
- Fight Time Projection: 5 Minutes
- Rounds Projections: 0.5 Total Rounds (Goblin)
Make UFC Shanghai Predictions on PrizePicks
UFC Shanghai: Walker vs. Zhang is expected to bring the fireworks on Saturday morning, with a stacked fight night full of top prospects looking to make a name for themselves. The main card will start at 6 a.m. ET on ESPN+ and run into the late morning.
Before you start your Saturday, you’re going to want to lock in those UFC predictions on PrizePicks – it’s the simplest way to win real money on UFC Shanghai: Walker vs. Zhang.
While this fight card may not have a ton of household names, it will deliver an exciting card of fights. Grab your coffee, tune in, and watch the action unfold!
Head over to the PrizePicks app and pick More or Less on two or more fighter projections in UFC Shanghai: Walker vs. Zhang, and lock in your lineup to win real money on the fights.
Additional UFC predictions for UFC Shanghai by Ryelan Jones.
