Aljamain Sterling secured a dominant decision win over inactive Brian Ortega in the UFC Shanghai co-main event, transforming what was initially set to be a featherweight bout into a 153-pound catchweight fight. The lopsided victory marked Sterling’s return to winning after his previous loss to Movsar Evloev.
The matchup was altered due to weight-cutting issues by Ortega, who struggled to make the non-title 146-pound target. This showed in his performance, as he largely lacked output against Sterling’s stiff jabs and solid striking throughout the five-round fight.
Sterling’s strategy was to tire Ortega out, which ultimately succeeded. The former bantamweight champion used his jab effectively, supplemented with leg kicks that left Ortega wincing in pain. A pivotal moment came when Sterling landed a stiff right hand to Ortega’s eye, prompting a brief pause in the fight.
In the third round, Ortega started working more aggressively, but Sterling remained patient and peppered him with accurate punches while circling away from danger. The momentum shifted briefly in Ortega’s favor late in the fourth round when he landed a solid right hand, but Sterling responded by taking Ortega down to the floor for several minutes of ground-and-pound.
Despite not being an exciting bout, Sterling looked good in his catchweight appearance. However, his win may not have significant implications for a title shot, as it was against an inactive opponent. For Ortega, this loss marks a concerning trend, with many questioning his ability to succeed at featherweight due to ongoing weight-cutting issues.
Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/400587/ufc-shanghai-results-aljamain-sterling-wins-lopsided-decision-over-inactive-brian-ortega-in-co-main-event