Sterling’s Striking Shut Out Ortega
Aljamain Sterling defeated Brian Ortega by unanimous decision on August 23, 2025, at UFC Shanghai. All three judges scored their five-round co-main event 50–45 after the matchup moved from featherweight to a 153-pound catchweight because of Ortega’s weight-cutting difficulties.
The late change preserved a major co-main event
Both fighters ultimately weighed 153 pounds, allowing the contest to proceed despite the disruption. Sterling had prepared for a featherweight opponent but accepted the changed conditions and completed the scheduled five rounds.
The meeting paired a former bantamweight champion with a two-time featherweight title challenger. Both were seeking a meaningful victory after defeats in their previous UFC appearances.
Movement and distance did most of the work
Although Sterling is known for his wrestling, he controlled much of the contest through striking. Punches, kicks and footwork allowed him to attack from range while limiting Ortega’s opportunities to answer.
Sterling outlanded Ortega by one hundred significant strikes to forty-five. He did not rely on early takedowns to establish the lead, instead building a sustained advantage before adding more grappling later.
Late ground attacks completed a clear decision
Sterling secured takedowns in the fourth and fifth rounds and threatened a rear-naked choke near the finish. Ground strikes added an emphatic final sequence before the judges confirmed a clean sweep.
The victory followed Sterling’s loss to Movsar Evloev and gave him a successful rebound after moving up from bantamweight. In Shanghai, the most striking feature was how much of the result came from his control of the standing exchanges.
Sources
- theScore: striking totals, late takedowns and prior Evloev loss
- UFC: medical weight-cut issue and catchweight change
- UFC: official shutout scores
