Overview

• Aljamain Sterling and Brian Ortega are set for a five-round co-main event on Aug. 23 in Shanghai beneath the Walker vs. Zhang headliner.
• Sterling objected to the five-round booking without additional compensation, saying the contract listed five rounds from the start and that he asked for a pay bump.
• Ortega welcomed the format and suggested the UFC wants more time for action, adding he has long trained for 25-minute fights and aims to “stir some sh*t up.”
• Betting markets keep Sterling favored, with lines tightening to roughly -275 to -300 for Sterling and +225 to +250 for Ortega after opening near -270 for Sterling.
• The bout pairs Sterling’s wrestling and top control against Ortega’s submission threats, and both say a strong performance could push them toward another title shot at 145 pounds.