UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang Full Fight Card, Date & Details
UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang
China
Main Card • Final
Brazil
R2, 2:37
Performance of the Night
United States
R5, 5:00
Russia
R3, 5:00
Dominican Republic
R3, 5:00
Peru
R1, 3:33
Ireland
Prelims • Final
R3, 5:00
R2, 4:35
Performance of the Night
England
R3, 5:00
R1, 0:43
Performance of the Night
R1, 0:37
South Korea
R3, 5:00
Kyrgyzstan
R1, 2:45
Performance of the Night
Kazakhstan
Official Event Results
$50k POTN
$50k POTN
Official Post-Fight Bonus Awards
$50,000 Post-Fight Bonus Recipients
Fight of the Night: No bonus awarded.
Performance of the Night: Johnny Walker earned $50,000 for his second-round stoppage of Zhang Mingyang in the main event.
Performance of the Night: Charles Johnson collected $50,000 for his dramatic second-round walk-off punch KO against previously undefeated Lone’er Kavanagh.
Performance of the Night: Kyle Daukaus secured $50,000 after returning to the Octagon with a thunderous 43-second first-round knockout over Michel Pereira.
Performance of the Night: Uran Satybaldiev took home $50,000 for locking up a rare first-round Ezekiel choke submission against Diyar Nurgozhay.
Reported Payouts & Disclosed Purses
Fighter Purses & Total Payout Estimates
| Fighter | Result | Base Purse | Win / Finish Bonus | Performance Bonus | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIN | — | — | $50,000 | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | $50,000 | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | $50,000 | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | $50,000 | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — |
*Purses and fighter compensation in Shanghai are subject to private promotional contracts and are not publicly disclosed by regional sporting authorities. Figures denoted with (—) represent undisclosed base or contractual win purses. Disclosed performance bonuses ($50,000 each) were officially awarded by the UFC.
Historic UFC Records Set
Promotional Records & Milestones at UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang
UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang marked the UFC’s first event hosted in Mainland China since November 2017 (UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum) and the promotion’s first trip to the country since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Uran Satybaldiev’s first-round submission victory over Diyar Nurgozhay marked just the third time an Ezekiel choke finish has ever been successfully executed in UFC history, following Aleksei Oleinik’s finishes in 2017 and 2018.
Brian Ortega vs. Aljamain Sterling represented a rare scheduled five-round non-title co-main event, which was contested at a 153-pound catchweight after pre-fight weight adjustment.
Road to UFC champion Yizha registered one of the fastest knockout victories in modern UFC featherweight history, flooring Westin Wilson in just 37 seconds of the opening frame.
Returning to the Octagon for the first time in three years, Kyle Daukaus delivered the fastest victory of his UFC career by stopping #14-ranked middleweight Michel Pereira in 43 seconds.
Johnny Walker became the first fighter in the UFC to defeat Chinese powerhouse Zhang Mingyang, collecting his 7th promotional knockout and his 5th UFC Performance of the Night bonus.
Johnny Walker landed an impeccable 13 of 13 leg kicks (100% precision), utilizing devastating low attacks to compromise Zhang Mingyang’s mobility ahead of the round two stoppage.
Charles Johnson secured his fourth UFC victory in under eight months, handing undefeated English prospect Lone’er Kavanagh the first defeat of his professional mixed martial arts career.
Taiyilake Nueraji recorded a rare promotional victory where a competitor was deducted two points in the opening round for an illegal foul, only to rally and finish Kiefer Crosbie via TKO in that same round.
Former bantamweight king Aljamain Sterling swept every single round on all three official scorecards (50–45, 50–45, 50–45) against Brian Ortega, landing 124 significant strikes over 25 minutes.
The card featured a record six athletes with roots in the Road to UFC tournament system (Yizha, Rongzhu, SuYoung You, Xiao Long, Taiyilake Nueraji, and Sumudaerji), cementing Shanghai as a premiere development hub.
Fights 3 and 4 of the preliminary card (Yizha vs. Wilson at 0:37 and Daukaus vs. Pereira at 0:43) combined for a staggering total cage time of just 80 seconds across two weight classes.
When and where did UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang take place?
UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang took place on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium in Shanghai, China.
Who won the main event between Johnny Walker and Zhang Mingyang?
Johnny Walker defeated Zhang Mingyang via TKO (leg kicks and punches) at 2:37 of Round 2, earning a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
Who won the co-main event between Aljamain Sterling and Brian Ortega?
Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling defeated Brian Ortega via unanimous decision (50–45, 50–45, 50–45) in their five-round, 153-pound catchweight clash.
Why did Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling fight at a 153-pound catchweight?
The bout was originally scheduled at featherweight (145 lbs), but was altered to a 153-pound catchweight after Brian Ortega experienced medical difficulties during the weight-cutting process.
Who won the post-fight bonuses at UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang?
No Fight of the Night was awarded. Four fighters earned $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses: Johnny Walker, Charles Johnson, Kyle Daukaus, and Uran Satybaldiev.
What was the rare submission finish at UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang?
Kyrgyz light heavyweight Uran Satybaldiev submitted Diyar Nurgozhay with an Ezekiel choke at 2:45 of Round 1, marking only the third Ezekiel choke finish in UFC history.
How did Kyle Daukaus defeat Michel Pereira?
Kyle Daukaus made a triumphant return to the UFC by knocking out #14-ranked middleweight Michel Pereira with punches and elbows in just 43 seconds of Round 1.
Why was Taiyilake Nueraji deducted two points against Kiefer Crosbie?
Nueraji was penalized two points in the opening round for landing an illegal knee, but recovered to secure a stoppage victory via TKO (elbows) at 3:33 of the same round.
Who was on the commentary and broadcast team for the event?
The event was called by play-by-play announcer Brendan Fitzgerald alongside color commentators Michael Bisping and Laura Sanko, with Joe Martinez introducing the fighters as cage announcer.
When was the last time the UFC visited Mainland China prior to this card?
The UFC’s last event in Mainland China prior to this card was UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum in November 2017, making this the promotion’s first trip to Mainland China in nearly eight years.
UFC news
