Aljamain Sterling returned to victory at UFC Shanghai, but his win came with a price. In the co-main event, he defeated Brian Ortega via unanimous decision after missing weight by the champion. The fight was marked as extremely passive, leading to criticism from fans.
Sterling employed an uncharacteristic approach, opting for jabs and footwork instead of wrestling. This decision earned him boos from the crowd, who wanted a more action-packed bout. Following his win, Sterling called for a featherweight title fight against Alexander Volkanovski, which sparked amusement among some in attendance.
However, a closer examination of the fight reveals that Sterling may have overdone it. In an interview, he revealed a brutal injury sustained during the fifth round. The elbow to Ortega’s chin proved particularly damaging, leaving Sterling unable to defend himself effectively.
Sterling’s victory over Ortega has raised questions about his next move. While he called for a featherweight title fight, it is unclear whether he earned enough points to bypass Lerone Murphy and Movsar Evloev in the rankings. Instead, a potential bout against Arnold Allen seems increasingly likely, given the timing.
Source: https://bloodyelbow.com/2025/08/24/aljamain-sterling-shows-off-living-nightmare-injury-he-suffered-against-brian-ortega-at-ufc-shanghai