Just under two months after being removed from the card UFC 316 by injury, Johnny Walker already has a date and opponent set to return to the octagon. As anticipated by SUPER LUTAS, the Brazilian faces the Chinese Mingyang Zhang in the main fight of UFC Shanghai, scheduled for August 23. The event marks the organization's return to mainland China and was officially announced by Dana White last Wednesday (25).
Defending 12th place in the light heavyweight rankings (up to 93kg), Walker is going through a difficult time in his career. He has not won since May 2023, when he overcame Anthony Smith in São Paulo, the Brazilian has accumulated two defeats by knockout — to the current champion Magomed Ankalayev and, more recently, to Volkan oezdemir — in addition to a 'No Contest' in his first fight against the Russian.
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On the other side, fighting at home, Mingyang Zhang seeks to establish himself as a real threat to the division's top 10. Currently ranked number 14, the 'Mountain Tiger' is in excellent form, with 12 consecutive victories in his career — ten by knockout and two by submission — and three consecutive triumphs in the UFC octagon.
In addition to confirming Johnny Walker e Mingyang Zhang as main attractions, Dana White also confirmed the co-main event of the UFC Shanghai. In the featherweight division (up to 65,7 kg), the former title challenger Brian ortega faces the former bantamweight champion (up to 61,2 kg) aljamain sterling.
UFC returns to mainland China with event in Shanghai
The UFC returns to mainland China after almost six years without events in the territory, reinforcing its expansion strategy in Asia. The last event held on the continent was UFC Shenzhen, on August 31, 2019, which marked the first UFC title fight in the Asian country, with Brazilian Jessica Andrade being dethroned by Chinese Weili Zhang.
Read More about: Johnny Walker, Mingyang Zhang, UFC, UFC Chinese, UFC Shanghai, UFC Shanghai
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