After Brian Ortega’s situation on the UFC Shanghai weigh-ins precipitated plenty of concern, his co-main occasion bout with Aljamain Sterling in the end appeared to show that the battle occurring — not to mention it being 5 rounds — was not value it.
Sterling utterly dominated the opening spherical by default, as he outstruck Ortega, who barely had a lot exercise, 23-2. Ortega continued to not do a lot of something within the second spherical — a spherical that noticed the 2 get booed by the gang and Herb Dean controversially pausing the motion after Ortega claimed a punch to be a watch poke, and Sterling allowed the break as a substitute of capitalizing.
Sterling continued to make use of his strikes to his benefit through the third spherical, mixing in leg kicks that busted up considered one of Ortega’s legs. Ortega tried to get a flurry going within the ultimate minute of the spherical, however his tempo dwindled once more through the fourth spherical. Sterling scored a takedown within the ultimate minute of the fourth spherical and landed some floor strikes on Ortega, who was determined to land something.
Sterling scored one other pair of takedowns within the fifth spherical however he needed to survive a rocking shot from Ortega, in addition to a desperation triangle. Sterling ended up sweeping the judges’ scorecards.
Aljamain Sterling Wins Lackluster Resolution Over Brian Ortega In UFC Shanghai Co-Important Occasion
Does Sterling suppose he's like aura farming right here as a substitute of wanting like a involved pet whereas he pokes on the worst Ortega of all time.
— Feño
(@fenoxsky) August 23, 2025
Aljamain Sterling went 5 rounds towards the corpse of Brian Ortega.
#UFC
— Fawad Ali (@fawadalijourno) August 23, 2025
“BRIAN YOURE DOWN 3 ROUNDS WE NEED A FINISH”Brian Ortega:#UFCShanghai pic.twitter.com/GeOdY4ror2
— Kenny B
(@KennyBalii) August 23, 2025
Fighter eliminated: Brian Ortega pic.twitter.com/H5NJuSwpJf
— Dovy
(@DovySimuMMA) August 23, 2025
This battle had been scheduled to be a featherweight bout however was modified following weight-cut issues for Ortega. It had initially been reported throughout UFC Shanghai early weigh-ins that “T-Metropolis” was transported to the hospital and the battle was off.
Sterling is now 2-1 at featherweight since transferring up after the top of his bantamweight title run. He’d use his post-fight interview to name out present champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Ortega has now misplaced 4 of his final 5, and his future is almost definitely at light-weight following a pair of fights that noticed him have weight minimize points.
