Even amidst the excitement of International Fight Week, the Ultimate Fighting Championship continues to unveil significant upcoming bouts. The featherweight division, in particular, has seen several high-profile matchups announced recently. These include Movsar Evloev against Aaron Pico, a fight potentially determining the next challenger for Alexander Volkanovski`s title, and Diego Lopes versus Jean Silva, now set to headline Noche UFC following its relocation to San Antonio, Texas.
The latest fight confirmations, revealed by Dana White, concern the top two contests for the promotion`s upcoming event in Shanghai.
However, while UFC 317 fight week captured headlines, fight fans online voiced their discontent regarding a specific aspect of these newly scheduled bouts.
Fans Criticize Co-Main Event Slot for Former Champion
With the UFC returning to Shanghai on August 23, featuring a prominent Chinese fighter in a key position on the card is a logical move. A promising new contender has emerged from the region in light heavyweight Mingyang Zhang. Known as `Mountain Tiger`, Zhang recently secured a notable victory by retiring Anthony Smith in April. He is now slated to face the #12 ranked Johnny Walker.
Zhang vs. Walker is set to headline the Shanghai event. The co-main event features a compelling featherweight clash: former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, looking to establish himself in the division, against former two-time title challenger Brian Ortega.
Fans expressed surprise and dissatisfaction that this highly-ranked matchup was placed on a Fight Night card in China instead of a pay-per-view event. Many were particularly unhappy that Sterling, a former champion, and Ortega were not given the main event slot over Zhang and Walker, two powerful strikers.
Reactions online included calling the card placement “disgraceful,” suggesting that Ortega vs. Sterling should be moved to a different, potentially bigger, event like UFC 319, questioning why such a significant fight is happening in China, and expressing disbelief that Walker is headlining over a former champion.
Analyzing the UFC`s Decision for the Shanghai Card
From the UFC`s perspective, having Mingyang Zhang headline their return to Shanghai makes strategic sense. A victory in front of his home crowd could be a pivotal moment for his burgeoning career and popularity in the region.
However, a counterpoint is that the promotion could have scheduled Brian Ortega vs Aljamain Sterling as the main event for a Fight Night card held in the United States or included it on a pay-per-view event, where it might attract more attention from a global audience and potentially serve as a five-round main event.
Another perceived disadvantage of this specific card arrangement is related to the potential length of the fights. While either main or co-main event could end quickly, the matchup between Ortega and Sterling, involving two highly experienced and strategically minded fighters, is arguably more likely to extend into the championship rounds. Given their extensive experience at the sport`s highest level, a five-round format, typically reserved for main events, could be seen as more fitting for Ortega vs. Sterling, even if it doesn`t guarantee an explosive finish.
