Fans Go Wild as UFC Books ‘Grappling Chess Match’ Between Aljamain Sterling and Brian Ortega

UFC fans show their excitement after the announcement of Aljamain Sterling vs. Brian Ortega at the upcoming UFC Shanghai.

Fans Go Wild as UFC Books ‘Grappling Chess Match’ Between Aljamain Sterling and Brian Ortega

Aljamain Sterling to take on Brian Ortega at UFC Shanghai (via X)

Recently, UFC has faced criticism for delivering underwhelming Fight Night cards that have lacked excitement and star power. However, the recent announcement of UFC Shanghai has surprisingly received overwhelmingly positive reviews from both fans and analysts. As UFC makes its long-awaited return to mainland China, Aljamain Sterling will go against Brian Ortega in a thrilling co-main event.

UFC Shanghai is scheduled for August 23rd inside the Shanghai Indoor Stadium, as UFC CEO Dana White recently confirmed. White also announced the top fights on the card, which have already generated significant buzz and excitement among UFC fans. Both Aljamain Sterling and Brian Ortega enter this fight coming off losses and desperately needing a crucial victory to rebound.

Sterling’s last fight saw him lose to Movsar Evloev, who decisively stopped his ambitious featherweight title run dominantly. Similarly, Brian Ortega was thoroughly dominated and destroyed by surging contender Diego Lopes during their intense clash at UFC 306. Given both fighters’ elite grappling backgrounds, fans are eagerly anticipating a highly competitive ground battle.

Apart from this, the main event will feature Johnny Walker facing Zhang Mingyang in a highly anticipated light heavyweight showdown in Shanghai. The Brazilian is currently on a two-fight losing streak and is eagerly seeking to return to his winning ways. Meanwhile, Mingyang is relatively new in the UFC but made headlines by brutally knocking out veteran Anthony Smith in his last fight.

Fans react to Aljamain Sterling vs. Brian Ortega

Brian Ortega’s fighting style relies heavily on slick Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, dangerous submissions, and surprising knockout power with striking combinations. In contrast, Aljamain Sterling uses relentless wrestling pressure, quick transitions, and unorthodox striking angles to control opponents and accumulate valuable cage time. He used the same tactics throughout his bantamweight title reign before getting knocked out by Sean O’Malley.

Aljamain Sterling is the fan favourite to beat Brian Ortega
Aljamain Sterling is the fan favourite to beat Brian Ortega (via X)

Ortega is comfortable absorbing damage while hunting submissions, but Sterling’s pace and wrestling could neutralize ‘T-City’s strengths over multiple rounds. Although Ortega’s submission threat is always dangerous, Sterling’s fan-favorite status stems from his consistent pressure and superior cardio. Nevertheless, here are some reactions to the fight announcements:

As expected, many fans have already predicted Aljamain Sterling to win the fight, considering Brian Ortega’s disappointing recent performances and setbacks. Fans are particularly excited to witness a proper grappling showdown like this, expecting a strategic and technical ground battle throughout the bout.

After his last loss, Ortega publicly considered moving up to the lightweight division, a move which quickly became a humorous topic among MMA fans. Despite the jokes, Ortega remains dangerous, but Sterling’s momentum and fan support make him the widely favored fighter heading into Shanghai.

Sterling has been busy training with his close friend and the current bantamweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili. After the Georgian’s recent win at UFC 316, the ‘Funk Master’ is eager to achieve something similar at UFC Shanghai.