UFC Fight Night 257 Results - August 23, 2025: Walker vs. Zhang Shocks Shanghai, Sterling Dominates Ortega

UFC Fight Night 257 delivered fireworks early and often, capped by Johnny Walker’s brutal TKO over Zhang Mingyang in the headliner. The card also saw Aljamain Sterling dominate Brian Ortega in a chess match, and several highlight-reel finishes across the prelims.

Location: Mercedes-Benz Arena — Shanghai, China

Main Card Results

Johnny Walker def. Zhang Mingyang (Light Heavyweight)

Method: TKO (punches), Round 2, 2:37
Main Event News Grade: A
Walker survived a shaky first round where Zhang landed heavy counters. In Round 2, Walker chopped away with leg kicks before blasting Zhang with ground-and-pound for a statement win.

Aljamain Sterling def. Brian Ortega (Lightweight)

Method: Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Main Event News Grade: B-
Sterling’s jab and leg kicks were the story for five rounds, neutralizing Ortega’s pressure. While dominant, the fight was plodding, with fans booing at times. Sterling made his case for another title shot.

Sergei Pavlovich def. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (Heavyweight)

Method: Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Main Event News Grade: B
A tactical striking affair. Pavlovich’s power shots edged out Cortes-Acosta’s consistent jab, earning the Russian a close but deserved win.

Su Mudaerji def. Kevin Borjas (Flyweight)

Method: Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Main Event News Grade: C+
A technical but slow-paced contest. Mudaerji’s leg kicks and jab kept Borjas guessing, but the lack of urgency prevented the fight from breaking open.

Taiyilake Nueraji def. Kiefer Crosbie (Welterweight)

Method: TKO (ground-and-pound), Round 1, 3:33
Main Event News Grade: A-
Despite controversy over an illegal knee, Nueraji unleashed brutal elbows and ground strikes to finish Crosbie in a bloody first-round storm.

Preliminary Card Results

• Gauge Young def. Hayisaer Maheshate — UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  Grade: B (gritty clinch work and striking volume carried Young)
• Charles Johnson def. Lone’er Kavanagh — KO (punch), Round 2, 4:35
  Grade: A (epic comeback finish after getting battered early)
• Rong Zhu def. Austin Hubbard — UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  Grade: B- (steady boxing and leg kicks controlled the fight)
• Kyle Daukaus def. Michel Pereira — KO (punches), Round 1, 0:43
  Grade: A+ (shocking one-punch finish in under a minute)
• Yi Zha def. Westin Wilson — KO (punches), Round 1, 0:57
  Grade: A (blink-and-you-miss-it destruction in front of hometown fans)
• SuYoung You def. Xiao Long — UD (29-28 x3)
  Grade: C (gritty, but sloppy exchanges left the crowd unsatisfied)
• Uran Satybaldiev def. Diyar Nurgozhay — Sub (Ezekiel choke), Round 1, 2:45
  Grade: A (rare submission — only the 5th Ezekiel choke in UFC history)

🎙️ MainEvent.News | Backstage Take

Shanghai delivered a card full of chaos, controversy, and history. Walker’s win reestablishes him as a wild card in the light heavyweight division, while Sterling—despite an underwhelming fight—reminded fans he remains an elite technician. The prelims nearly stole the show with Daukaus, Zha, and Satybaldiev all producing highlight finishes.

If the UFC wanted to make a statement about its continued global expansion, Shanghai made sure fight fans across the world were paying attention.