Last Updated on August 21, 2025 12:47 pm by Erwin Noguera
The UFC heads to the Shanghai Indoor Arena for an action-packed Fight Night, showcasing top talent in an early event designed for fight fans across the Americas.
The main event sees the unorthodox Johnny Walker going against Mingyang Zhang, in what could be a pretty fun main event in the Light Heavyweight division.
The co-main event sees Brian Ortega welcoming Aljamain Sterling into the Featherweight Division, as they both face off in what could be a banger of a fight if it hits the ground, as both have a lot to showcase when things go to the mat.
We have 12 fights in total, with 5 forming the main card and the other 7 being the prelims. However, the fight card features a lot of Asian talent fighting at or close to home, alongside some other international competitors preparing to showcase their skill sets.
At Gambyl Exchange, you can check all the UFC/MMA bets, the analysis of each fighter, and the final bet you can make in these fights.
UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang Fight Card and Info
| Johnny Walker +295 | Mingyang Zhang -385 |
| Brian Ortega +231 | Aljamain Sterling -294 |
| Sergei Pavlovich -270 | Waldo Cortes-Acosta +212 |
| Sumudaerji -147 | Kevin Borjas +119 |
| Taiyilake Nueraji -440 | Kiefer Crosbie +311 |
| Maheshate Hayisaer +112 | Gauge Young -139 |
| Lone’er Kavanagh -217 | Charles Johnson +168 |
| Rongzhu -323 | Austin Hubbard +243 |
| Michel Pereira -294 | Kyle Daukaus +217 |
| Yizha -1667 | Westin Wilson +660 |
| Long Xiao +108 | Su Young You -139 |
| Diyar Nurgozhay +146 | Uran Satybaldiev -185 |
| When? | Saturday, August 23rd, at 3:00 am ET, 2:00 am CST, 1:00 am MT, and midnight PT |
| Where? | the Shanghai Indoor Stadium, in Shanghai, China |
| Where Can I Watch it? | UFC Fight Pass |
UFC Fight Night: Johnny Walker vs. Mingyang Zhang
Why Bet on Johnny Walker?
Walker can be a difficult fighter to watch—his style is awkward, his chin is questionable, and his striking defense is often lacking. Still, he has the potential to shock everyone this weekend with explosive, unpredictable athletic moves that could catch Zhang off guard. Walkers’ unpredictability is his biggest asset, but since moving to train at SBG Ireland, he has lost his unpredictability; he has lost the main thing that has made him a fan favourite fighter, and now he’s facing a juggernaut on a tear, and we have a lot of concern.
Why Bet on Mingyang Zhang?
Zhang is coming off a string of KO wins, but for as much as that sounds great and looks great on a record, his last opponent was Anthony Smith, who is now retired.
Zhang is at a severe reach disadvantage, which may give him some trouble if Walker fights long, but if Zhang explodes into the pocket and lands something in the pocket, then that reach advantage of Walker isn’t going to mean anything.
The local is someone who can also take more than one punch before he sees the pearly gates, so we believe he is going to be able to weather some storm before he lands his attacks. Maybe with the Chinese crowd behind him, he’s going to be even more urgent to fight with seriously nasty intent.
Either way, Zhang can knock Walker out, but that reach disadvantage is going to be a problem for him.
Final Betting Analysis: Johnny Walker vs. Mingyang Zhang
Walker has very slim chances of winning, mainly due to his unpredictability. While there is a possibility that he could pull off something miraculous, if Zhang lands a solid punch to his chin, it will likely be the end for him. This scenario appears to be the most probable outcome.
UFC Fight Night: Brian Ortega vs. Aljamain Sterling
Why Bet on Brian Ortega?
Ortega is somewhat of a one-dimensional fighter, known for being an absolute warhorse on his feet, as he can throw a large volume of strikes. However, he is particularly recognized for his grappling skills on the ground. If the fight goes to the mat, his chances of winning typically increase significantly. That said, we don’t believe he will have an easy time against a high-level grappler like Sterling.
If this fight remains standing, we think Ortega will experience a speed disadvantage, as Sterling is much quicker with his strikes and displays greater variety in his attacks. In contrast, Ortega’s boxing and overall striking are more conventional and straightforward.
Beyond the speed disadvantage, Ortega may also struggle with his performance on fight day due to the weight cut, which could negatively impact him.
Why Bet on Aljamain Sterling?
Sterling is an exceptional grappler, and this is evident throughout his career. However, we believe he can maintain a faster pace for five rounds compared to Ortega. This is because Sterling’s training partner, Merab, is known for his incredible cardio and pace during fights. This aspect is expected to be a significant factor in the upcoming bout.
On the other hand, there’s a possibility that Sterling could get clipped by Ortega if he becomes a bit reckless on the feet, as he is vulnerable to counterattacks. This leads us to think that Sterling will prefer to operate at kicking range, where he possesses a diverse array of powerful kicks.
Regardless, we believe that Sterling’s varied striking techniques will be crucial to his success while standing. However, things become much more complicated once the fight goes to the ground, as both fighters are outstanding grapplers.
Final Betting Analysis: Brian Ortega vs. Aljamain Sterling
In this fight, Ortega would have to pressure a whole lot and make this an insufferable fight for Sterling, but we don’t know if Ortega will be able to keep that output up for five rounds, or at least long enough to win enough rounds to win on the scorecards.
Sterling will be able to outpace Ortega here unless Ortega completely shuts him down on the ground, which is a possibility, but not one we are counting on.
UFC Fight Night: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Why Bet on Sergei Pavlovich?
Pavlovich has looked a bit timid in recent fights, perhaps due to the level of competition he now faces, but we have a feeling that he wants to look like the wrecking ball he was once known for this weekend.
Pavlovich has a massive reach advantage over WCA here, and as we know from just looking at that fight, that’s going to help him tremendously in landing his devastating power punches at distance.
Why Bet on Waldo Cortes-Acosta?
Waldo Cortes-Acosta is coming off a series of impressive victories against some well-known opponents in the division, with his latest win being against Serghei Spivac. He performed exceptionally well, successfully stuffing takedowns and effectively landing jabs at range. However, the key to his success lies in his leg kicks; he is among the best leg kickers in the division, and they serve as his primary weapon alongside his jab.
If he can land those leg kicks early against a powerful opponent like Sergey Pavlovich, it could disrupt Pavlovich’s punching and take some of the power out of his shots. This would allow Cortes-Acosta to increase his volume of strikes. That said, he still needs to contend with Pavlovich’s devastating power and his reach disadvantage. Therefore, we can expect to see Cortes-Acosta employing a lot of defensive movements early on while using his leg kicks to slow down Pavlovich.
Final Betting Analysis: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
WCA has impressive leg kicks. Since this is an opposite-stance fight, a well-timed inside leg kick could effectively counter a powerful punch from Pavlovich. This strategy may make Pavlovich hesitate and reconsider his approach.
We do have to consider that Pavlovich is the first power puncher that WCA has faced, and given that he has a huge reach advantage over Salsa Boy, we can’t help but think that Pavlovich will be hunting for a finish early here to refresh his career a bit because his hype has seriously dropped off.
UFC Fight Night: Sumudaerji vs. Kevin Borjas
Why Bet on Sumudaerji?
Sumudaerji only has a handful of wins in the UFC, none of them too impressive, and that seems to be somewhat thematic with how Sumudaerji’s career has been so far, because outside of his recent win against Raposo, his career hasn’t been all that fantastic.
Sumudaerji has proven to be a decent competitor, known for his high output and ability to engage in action. His main vulnerability seems to be his takedown defense and counter-wrestling. However, this may not be a significant concern, as Borjas has shown minimal wrestling skills in his fights. Therefore, we can expect a solid stand-up bout between the two.
Why Bet on Kevin Borjas?
Borjas is only three fights into his UFC career, but his victory over Ronaldo Rodriguez marks a significant turning point, especially considering that “Lazy Boy” is not an easy opponent.
Now, Borjas faces an immediate challenge due to the significant height difference. He will need to be cautious of Sumudaerji’s left-sided attacks, as Borjas adopts a slightly bladed stance that leaves his entire body and head vulnerable to Sumudaerji’s left roundhouse kick.
However, in close quarters, Borjas seems to excel. He maintains an active defensive shell and is difficult to track because of his head movement. He effectively strings together combinations, and it appears that he has made substantial improvements during his fight with Rodriguez.
Final Betting Analysis: Sumudaerji vs. Kevin Borjas
Sumudaerji’s most dangerous weapon is his left straight. He is exceptionally tall for his division, which creates significant challenges for Borjas. However, if Borjas can effectively close the distance and land his punches during an exchange, he should be able to gain an advantage on the scorecards. That said, it will be a difficult task since Sumudaerji excels in the kicking and jabbing range.
We believe that Borjas will pose a serious challenge for Sumudaerji, particularly in close quarters, as Sumudaerji tends to be quite predictable with his attacks.
UFC Fight Night: Taiyilake Nueraji vs. Kiefer Crosbie
Why Bet on Taiyilake Nueraji?
While Nueraji is an exceptional finisher, he has struggled with weight cuts in the past and has missed weight at weigh-ins multiple times, which raises concerns about whether he will healthily make weight this time.
Assuming he makes weight and is in good health, he should easily defeat Crosbie, who is among the weakest competitors on the roster. Crosbie, having come from SBG Ireland, seems more like a training dummy than a legitimate fighter and does not deserve to step foot inside the Octagon.
Why Bet on Kiefer Crosbie?
Crosbie is going to face a tough challenge against the initial intensity of Nueraji. It’s unclear what strategy Crosbie can employ besides using his resilience, as that’s realistically the only way to compete with someone as formidable as Nueraji.
Crosbie needs to get out there and present a real challenge for Nueraji, even though he is indeed fighting an uphill battle.
Final Betting Analysis: Taiyilake Nueraji vs. Kiefer Crosbie
Nueraji demonstrates a high level of diversity in his techniques and has various ways to secure a finish in his fights. He is not just a first-round finisher; he possesses the power and explosiveness to continue performing well in later rounds. However, it’s unlikely he will need to, as Crosbie may very well get knocked out before the fight even begins.
On a more serious note, it’s difficult to see any path for Crosbie to win this match.
UFC Fight Night: Maheshate Hayisaer vs. Gauge Young
Why Bet on Maheshate Hayisaer?
Maheshate is coming off a tough loss against Motta, where he fought admirably but got chinned quite a few times.
What we appreciate about Maheshate is his use of knee strikes, particularly when driving them up the middle. His tall frame allows him to utilize both his right and left knees. When in a clinch, he can deliver a powerful knee strike directly to his opponent’s jaw, which has proven to be quite effective.
However, Maheshate has a significant defensive flaw. He tends to adopt an overly offensive stance, which leaves him less prepared to defend against incoming shots or evade attacks. This could pose a serious problem when facing an opponent like Young, who can take advantage of such weaknesses.
Why Bet on Gauge Young?
Young is only one fight deep into his UFC career and hasn’t had a lot to show for it, as before the UFC it looks like he’s fought nothing but cans and low tier talent, so whilst this fight might be a little bit more even in terms of competition, we do think that he has to contend with a tricky striker because Maheshate carries quite a bit of power and has that uniquely tall frame that Young has to deal with.
There is a fair likelihood that Young is going to use his wrestling and grappling here; it would be the path of least resistance, but even getting to the level change would mean having to eat a knee or two, and we just don’t know if his chin is ready for a knee up the middle.
Final Betting Analysis: Maheshate Hayisaer vs. Gauge Young
Throughout his UFC career, Hayisaer has been clipped, rocked, and dropped multiple times. We don’t expect that to change this time around. Although we don’t think he will be dropped cleanly by Young, he remains quite susceptible to strikes. We believe that Young will be more accurate with his boxing.
There are several factors to consider, but we think Young will win by finishing Hayisaer.
UFC Fight Night: Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Charles Johnson
Why Bet on Lone’er Kavanagh?
Johnson’s experience will be a significant factor in this fight, along with his exceptional cardio. The longer the fight goes, the more it may benefit Johnson, as he usually appears just as fresh in the third round as he does in the first. We are curious to see how both fighters manage their fatigue if the fight reaches the third round.
Regardless of how the fight unfolds, we anticipate that Kavanagh will come out on top after inflicting considerable damage to Johnson.
Why Bet on Charles Johnson?
Johnson being an underdog certainly raises a few eyebrows because he is a fantastic underdog to take in almost every case, but whilst we might not take Johnson as a pick here, he has absolutely earned our respect.
Now, in terms of his skill set, he’s a rather difficult one to both get a read on, and predict since he’s so free flowing with how he fights, his arms are constantly low, he’s always moving and dancing around, showing off a dozen different things in the same sequence, he’s someone who is hard to prepare for but also easy to defeat if you land cleanly on him because his chin is often out there for the taking.
Final Betting Analysis: Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Charles Johnson
Johnson’s experience will be a significant factor in this fight, along with his exceptional cardio. The longer the fight goes, the more it may benefit Johnson, as he usually appears just as fresh in the third round as he does in the first. We are curious to see how both fighters manage their fatigue if the fight reaches the third round.
Regardless of how the fight unfolds, we anticipate that Kavanagh will come out on top after inflicting considerable damage to Johnson.
UFC Fight Night: Rongzhu vs. Austin Hubbard
Why Bet on Rongzhu?
Rongzhu is coming off a solid win over Kody Steele, in which we saw a large amount of output with very high accuracy over three rounds from the Chinese fighter. We expect to see that same tenacity in this fight against Hubbard.
Why Bet on Austin Hubbard?
Hubbard has had it rough during his current UFC tenure, with only one substantial win over Michel Figlak in his last four fights. It’s a bit hard to gauge where he stands in the division.
Hubbard’s striking output pales in comparison to Rongzhu’s, and we doubt he will spend much time attempting to bring the fight to the ground, which is his only path to victory. However, we are uncertain about his chances of successfully achieving that goal.
We believe that Hubbard will struggle to get the fight to the ground, so we can expect to see a lot of cage and fence fighting, along with clinch strikes. This may be Hubbard’s best strategy for winning the fight, but it doesn’t appear to be a particularly effective one.
Final Betting Analysis: Rongzhu vs. Austin Hubbard
The most immediate threat to Rongzhu posed by Hubbard is his wrestling. However, we have always been impressed by Rongzhu’s exceptional hip movement, which has been evident since his fights in the Road to UFC tournaments. His outstanding hip dexterity makes him very difficult to take down. Therefore, we believe Hubbard will face significant challenges in executing the necessary takedowns to avoid Rongzhu’s powerful flurries.
We expect Rongzhu to take the win in this clash.
UFC Fight Night: Michel Pereira vs. Kyle Daukaus
Why Bet on Michel Pereira?
Pereira is a highly skilled and well-rounded fighter, so it requires significant preparation to face someone like him. For Daukaus to accept this fight on just about one week’s notice is quite strange and puts him at a notable disadvantage.
One key advantage Pereira has is that he was already training for a fight, while Daukaus is stepping in to replace Tulio after being re-signed by the UFC.
The longer the fight stays standing and at striking distance, the better it will be for Pereira. He is adept at luring his opponents into chasing him, allowing him to deliver sharp counters while he circles away.
Why Bet on Kyle Daukaus?
Daukaus is entering this fight on an impressive streak, and his main strategy for victory is to grapple and attack Pereira’s neck. If Daukaus’s wrestling has improved even slightly, it could lead to some intriguing moments where Pereira finds himself defending against takedowns near the cage.
Final Betting Analysis: Michel Pereira vs. Kyle Daukaus
Pereira should rightfully be the favourite here, as his opponent is not on the same level.
Daukaus is likely to be the grappling threat here, but despite the reach advantage of 3 inches, he won’t have the advantage on the feet in the striking department as he seemingly lacks all of the power to match the same kind of threat that Pereira poses.
UFC Fight Night: Yizha vs. Westin Wilson
Why Bet on Yizha?
One thing you can almost always expect from Yizha is his immense forward pressure and quick takedown attempts. He tends to dominate his opponents and plays the role of a bully in the ring. However, this aggressive style has its drawbacks; his relentless forward motion can sometimes make him vulnerable to incoming strikes, as was evident in his fight against Gabriel Santos.
Why Bet on Westin Wilson?
Wilson isn’t someone you can speak about positively, as he hasn’t demonstrated anything noteworthy so far. While there is a possibility that he could make the fight challenging for Yizha by staying mobile and being a difficult target to track, we haven’t seen him effectively accomplish that. As a result, it’s unlikely that his strategy will be effective against such an aggressive fighter as Yizha.
Final Betting Analysis: Yizha vs. Westin Wilson
Yizha is most likely set up for success here as he takes on one of the worst UFC fighters we have seen in Westin Wilson.
We think we’re in for a “one way traffic” kind of fight where Yizha steps on the gas as soon as the fight starts and just hunts for a finish whether its a submission on the ground or a knockout via ground and pound because frankly, Yizha, if he’s in control on the ground, is a scary fighter to watch.
UFC Fight Night: Long Xiao vs. Su Young You
Why Bet on Long Xiao?
Xiao is the striker in this clash of styles fight, and we like what we see when he fights, he bites down on the mouthpiece and lets his hands go with minimal set up, he is an absolute nightmare to deal with on the feet and we suspect that You will have to deal with a whole heap of hooks and overhands coming his way because those are the main attacks that Xiao uses.
Xiao does everything to set up that right hand of his, and he’s quite dextrous with how he throws it because it comes from all three angles that one can use when boxing: the uppercut, the straight, and the hook; those three angles would make it difficult for Young You to counter and defend accordingly.
Why Bet on Su Young You?
Su Young You has been an impressive RTU fighter to watch. His grappling and wrestling are always entertaining to watch, and with a recent win over AJ Cunningham, we can’t help but see a bright future in him.
You isn’t exactly a traditional BJJ fighter though, you will notice two things when he grapples, he’s extremely good at gliding through positions like he’s just drilling stuff at the gym, but he is also highly unorthodox and explosive when he wants to be and that makes him both hard to read and hard to control so no matter what position he’s in when he is on the ground, he will find a way out and back into an advantageous position, he’s just that tricky to deal with.
Final Betting Analysis: Long Xiao vs. Su Young You
You’s wrestling pressure and takedown volume perfectly counter Xiao’s quick striking, as he possesses incredible BJJ and wrestling skills, making him highly capable of testing Xiao’s takedown defense.
The largest issue that Su Young You will face is the power of Xiao. He hits like a Lightweight and has all sorts of attacks to rely on, especially a lightning-quick jumping knee, which may be timed perfectly to counter the level change of You.
Either way, if the fight hits the ground, Su Young will likely be in full control as his top pressure is fantastic, and his ability to move one step ahead of his opponent’s adjustments is just fantastic to watch.
UFC Fight Night: Diyar Nurgozhay vs. Uran Satybaldiev
Why Bet on Diyar Nurgozhay?
Nurgozhay is coming off a tough debut loss against Ribeiro, in which he kept getting caught by clean straight rights and eventually succumbed to a submission.
Keep an eye on that left side attack from Nurgozhay, as it is no doubt his best attack; he is rather good at stringing together more than one strike and is relatively good at fighting with a steady forward pressure style.
The problem with Nurgozhay is his susceptibility to straights and long hooks, and since he’s facing someone who has a 5-inch reach advantage, he is going to be hit by some nasty straight shots.
His left body and head kick is going to be a nasty tool to deal with the long-range tools of Satybaldiev, but he is still at a substantial reach disadvantage, and that’s not too great.
Why Bet on Uran Satybaldiev?
Satybaldiev looked ferocious when he fought Buday, throwing huge combinations and just never being shy from pressing a nasty pace, and that’s perhaps why he is a favourite here. However, we can’t help but think that he gets a bit too crazy and that could lead to a counter or a return attack from Nurgozhay, which could clip the chin.
We enjoy watching Satybaldiev fight, as he demonstrates a strong desire to pursue a finish from start to finish. With a significant reach advantage, we believe his long-range combinations will be an ideal way to test Nurgozhay’s chin.
Final Betting Analysis: Diyar Nurgozhay vs. Uran Satybaldiev
Uran Satybaldiev is notably faster and more capable of delivering 5 to 6 punches in rapid succession. He brings a sense of action to the fight, which is crucial because his opponent, Nurgozhay, tends to be a bit lumbering and slow in both movement and striking.
Given the striking dynamics in this bout, we believe that the advantage will go to Satybaldiev, and we expect him to secure a victory in this matchup.
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