Overview

• The UFC confirmed Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling both weighed 153 pounds, keeping their co-main event intact at a catchweight and still scheduled for five rounds.
• Early claims that the fight was off were walked back once both fighters hit the scale, with UFC commentator Brendan Fitzgerald saying the bout was never officially canceled.
• Ortega appeared visibly depleted at the scale, renewing debate over extreme weight cutting following previous struggles in making featherweight.
• Sterling had already criticized being booked for five rounds on a non-headline slot without additional pay, highlighting broader compensation concerns.
• The Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang main event remains set after both made weight, while betting odds shifted further toward Sterling following the weigh-in drama.