Ortega-Sterling UFC Shanghai Fight Changes to 153-Pound Catchweight

The highly anticipated featherweight matchup between Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling at UFC Shanghai has been changed to a catchweight bout at 153 pounds after both fighters missed the featherweight limit. Ortega, known to struggle with making the 145-pound featherweight limit, and Sterling both weighed in at 153 pounds, prompting the UFC to adjust the fight's weight class. Despite rumors of Ortega being hospitalized due to weight-cutting issues, the fight remains on as the five-round co-main event. Ortega, a two-time featherweight title challenger, is coming off a recent loss and has a 1-3 record in his last four fights, while Sterling, a former bantamweight champion who moved up to featherweight, is 1-1 in the new division. The main event of UFC Shanghai features a light heavyweight bout between Johnny Walker and Zhang Mingyang, both of whom made weight without incident. This catchweight decision highlights ongoing challenges Ortega faces regarding his optimal fighting weight.