Johnny Walker vs Zhang Mingyang headlines UFC Shanghai return after 8 years

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is returning to Shanghai for the first time in nearly eight years.

The early-morning lineup featuring the region's top emerging talents will stream on ESPN+.

UFC on their website announced that the main event will feature Johnny Walker taking on Zhang Mingyang inside the octagon at Shanghai Indoor Stadium.

The Brazilian mixed martial arts (MMA) athlete Walker has been fighting in the UFC octagon for nearly seven years and he has proven himself to be a dangerous fighter.

He ranks among the top-15 athletes in the 205-pound weight category, appears to be a dangerous test for rising hopefuls and a tough challenge for seasoned veterans.

Whereas his opponent, the 26-year-old Zhang, also known as Mountain Tiger, has made a name for himself as he finished opponents in the first round in all of his three UFC appearances.

This main event is a crucial fight for both athletes as Walker has lost his previous three matches and he would want to avoid the streak, whereas, Zhang has been victorious in all three of his fights and would want to continue the streak.

Several other matches are scheduled for MMA enthusiasts.

Main Card Matches:

• Sergei Pavlovich vs. Waldo Cortes Acosta
• Sumudaerji vs. Kevin Borjas
• Brian Ortega vs. Aljamain Sterling
• Kiefer Crosbie vs. Taiyilake Nueraji

Prelim Matches:

• Yizha vs. Westin Wilson
• Xiao Long vs. SuYoung You
• Uran Satybaldiev vs. Diyar Nurgozhay
• Maheshate vs. Gauge Young
• Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Charles Johnson
• Rongzhu vs. Austin Hubbard
• Michel Pereira vs Kyle Daukaus

The event’s Prelim matches will start at 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT, followed by the main card at 6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT on August 13, 2025 at Shanghai Indoor Stadium in Shanghai, China.