Aljamain Sterling vs. Brian Ortega squared off in a catchweight contest earlier tonight (Sat. Aug. 23, 2025) live on ESPN+ inside Shanghai Indoor Stadium in Shanghai, China. In a dominant showing, Sterling picked apart Ortega for much of five rounds.

Aljamain Sterling defeated Brian Ortega via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) in the UFC Shanghai co-main event Saturday at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium.The fight was contested at a 153-pound catchweight after Ortega was unable to make the featherweight limit at Friday's weigh-ins.

In Saturday's UFC Fight Night 257 co-main event, Sterling (20-5 MMA, 17-5 UFC) cruised to a unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) win over Ortega (16-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) at Shanghai Indoor Stadium in Shanghai.

Aljamain Sterling vs. Brian Ortega survives chaos after Ortega medical scare, fight revived at 153 catchweight in dramatic MMA twist.

Aljamain Sterling defeated Brian Ortega via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) in the UFC Shanghai co-main event Saturday at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium.The fight was contested at a 153-pound catchweight after Ortega was unable to make the featherweight limit at Friday's weigh-ins.

Brian Ortega vs. Aljamain Sterling is now a catchweight fight after a twist at UFC Shanghai official weigh-ins.

On Saturday night, Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling are now set to compete at a catchweight of 153 pounds. Despite the promotion’s call to move the bout to being closer to a lightweight contest than a featherweight one, fans were still concerned for Ortega after he stepped on the scales.

Aljamain Sterling has hit out at a “kind of stupid” rule in his UFC Shanghai fight with Brian Ortega this weekend. On Saturday (23 August), Sterling will face Ortega in a five-round co-main event, as each man looks to push towards a featherweight title shot.

The South Bay star spent part of the year “traveling to train” ahead of Saturday’s Shanghai showdown with the former bantamweight champion.

Sterling was really feeling himself in the third frame. The 36-year-old landed his jab at will, scored another low kick knockdown, and finished with a spinning elbow like the one Lerone Murphy KO’d Aaron Pico with at UFC 319 last weekend.

Brian Ortega is still competing tomorrow morning (Sat.., Aug. 23, 2025) at UFC Shanghai from Shanghai, China, but not after an apparent ride in an ambulance. On Thursday evening, it was revealed that Ortega was not going to be able to make weight for his co-main event matchup against fellow UFC featherweight Aljamain Sterling.