Johnny Walker makes weight and confirms UFC Shanghai main event against Zhang Mingyang

Johnny Walker hits the weight for the UFC Shanghai. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC Brasil

Johnny Walker is officially confirmed in the main fight of the UFC Shanghai, an event that takes place this Saturday (23), in China. During the official weigh-in held this Friday (22), the Rio de Janeiro light heavyweight weighed 93,4 kg, within the limit allowed for non-belt fights. His opponent, the Chinese Zhang Mingyang, also had no problems with the scale, marking 93 kg.

The duel between Walker and Mingyang tops the Asian card and could have significant implications for the light heavyweight (up to 93 kg) rankings. Coming off a loss to Magomed Ankalayev, the Brazilian seeks to return to winning ways and position himself once again among the main names in the category.

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Despite fighting far from home, Johnny demonstrated confidence throughout the week and appeared in good physical shape at the weigh-in, which reinforces expectations for an aggressive duel. Mingyang, in turn, will make his main event debut in the organization and will try to use the support of the local crowd to surprise the Brazilian veteran.

the card of UFC Shanghai still brings fights of great appeal, such as the duel between Michael Pereira e Kyle Daukaus, both in the middleweight division (up to 83,9 kg). The Flying Paraense weighed 84,4 kg on the scale, while the North American weighed 83,9 kg, confirming the fight without any major problems.

Ortega and Sterling in last-minute catchweight clash

Brian ortega have a fight against aljamain sterling rescheduled in UFC Shanghai. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC India

Originally scheduled to take place at featherweight (up to 65,7 kg), the clash between Brian ortega e aljamain sterling underwent a last-minute change. Both athletes weighed in at 69,4 kg, and the fight was changed to a catchweight, outside the traditional weight limit for the division.

The change indicates a possible difficulty in cutting weight on the part of Brian ortega, which caused a stir at the weigh-ins, but the UFC opted to keep the fight on the card. Despite the change, the bout remains one of the event's main attractions.

Fighter weights for UFC Shanghai

MAIN CARD

Light heavyweight (up to 93 kg): Johnny Walker (93,4 kg) x Zhang Mingyang (93 kg) – main event

Paired weight (69,4kg): Brian ortega (69,4 kg) x aljamain sterling (69,4 kg)

Heavy weight (up to 120,2 kg): Sergei Pavlovich (116 kg) x Waldo Cortes-Acosta (118,8 kg)

Flyweight (up to 56,7 kg): Sumudaerji (56,9 kg) x Kevin Borjas (57,2 kg)

Welterweight (up to 77,1 kg): Kiefer Crosbie (77,3 kg) x Taiyilake Nueraji (77,1 kg)

PRELIMINARY CARD

Light weight (up to 70,3 kg): Maheshate (70,3 kg) x Gauge Young (70,5 kg)

Light weight (up to 70,3 kg): Lone'er Kavanagh (57,2 kg) x Charles Johnson (57,2 kg)

Light weight (up to 70,3 kg): Rong Zhu (70,5 kg) x Austin Hubbard (70,5 kg)

Average weight (up to 84 kg): Michael Pereira (84,4 kg) x Kyle Daukaus (83,9 kg)

Featherweight (up to 65,8 kg): Yi Zha (65,8 kg) x Westin Wilson (66,2 kg)

Bantam weight (up to 61,2 kg): Xiao Long (61,7 kg) x Su-Young You (61,5 kg)

Light heavyweight (up to 93 kg): Uran Satybaldiev (92,5 kg) x Diyar Nurgozhay (93,2 kg)