Brian Ortega vs. Aljamain Sterling
UFC Shanghai Showdown
Mercedes-Benz Arena, Shanghai, China
Event Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025
On Saturday, August 23, 2025, Brian Ortega is set to clash with Aljamain Sterling at UFC Shanghai. The initial betting line places Ortega at +230, while Sterling is favored at -270.
Brian “T-City” Ortega steps into the Octagon with a professional record of 16 wins, 4 losses, and 0 draws (1 No Contest). At 34 years old, he weighs 145 lbs and stands 5’8″ with a reach of 69″. His opponent, Aljamain “Funk Master” Sterling, boasts a record of 24 wins and 5 losses. The 36-year-old weighs 144 lbs and stands at 5’7″, with an impressive reach of 71″. Ortega averages 4.08 significant strikes landed per minute, while Sterling achieves 4.41. Ortega has a striking accuracy of 37%, compared to Sterling’s 52%. In defense, Ortega absorbs an average of 6.59 significant strikes per minute, whereas Sterling takes only 2.21. Ortega successfully defends against 49% of the strikes thrown his way, while Sterling has a 58% defense rate.
| UFC Shanghai Matchup | Brian Ortega | Aljamain Sterling |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Betting Odds | +230 | -270 |
| Professional Record | 16-4-0 (1 NC) | 24-5-0 |
| Average Fight Duration | 12:57 | 13:22 |
| Height | 5’8″ | 5’7″ |
| Weight Class | 145 lbs | 144 lbs |
| Reach | 69″ | 71″ |
| Strikes Landed Per Minute | 4.08 | 4.41 |
| Striking Precision | 37% | 52% |
In terms of grappling, Ortega is less effective, averaging just 1.07 takedowns every 15 minutes, with a takedown success rate of 26%. He also defends against 55% of takedown attempts against him. Conversely, Sterling has a 29% success rate on his takedowns and defends 42% of his opponents’ takedown attempts. Ortega displays more submission skills, attempting an average of 1.1 submissions every 15 minutes, while Sterling attempts 0.7 per 3 rounds.
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In his last appearance in the Octagon, Brian Ortega faced off against Diego Lopes and was defeated by unanimous decision in the third round. Lopes successfully landed 113 of 214 total strikes during that match, while Ortega managed to connect with 69 of 201. In significant strikes, Lopes landed 106 out of 206 attempts for a 51% accuracy rate, landing 75 out of 172 aimed at the head. Ortega, on the other hand, achieved a landing rate of 32%, with 63 of 195 significant strikes hitting the target, including 52 of 180 directed at the head. Notably, 70% of Lopes’s strikes and 96% of Ortega’s strikes were landed from a distance.
In the latest fight for Aljamain Sterling, he went up against Movsar Evloev and also faced a unanimous decision loss in the third round. Evloev landed 75% of his significant strikes from a distance, with Sterling matching that at 75%. Sterling’s striking accuracy was 46%, landing 12 out of 26 attempts, including 7 out of 16 aimed at the head. Evloev connected on 8 of 26 significant strikes overall, landing 6 of 23 to the head. Rolling through total strikes, Evloev connected on 136 of 165, while Sterling managed to land 45 of 67 of his attempted strikes.
Additional Fights Worth Watching
Another exciting matchup to anticipate features Sergei Pavlovich facing Waldo Cortes-Acosta. Pavlovich aims for a victory to improve his record of 19-3-0. At 33 years old, he weighs in at 257 lbs and stands 6’3″ tall, with a reach of 84″. Cortes-Acosta, standing at 6’4″ and weighing 260 lbs, looks to enhance his 14-1-0 record at 33 years of age, with a reach of 78″. In grappling stats, Pavlovich averages 0.63 takedowns every 3 rounds, while Cortes-Acosta averages 0.42. In striking, Pavlovich lands about 4.54 strikes per minute with a 43% accuracy, while Cortes-Acosta lands 5.98 per minute at an accuracy of 48%.
Another must-see fight scheduled for the night involves Kevin Borjas against Sumudaerji. Sumudaerji, with a record of 17-7-0, weighs 125 lbs and stands 5’8″ with a reach of 72″. Borjas, the orthodox fighter at 10-3-0, stands 5’5″ and weighs 126 lbs, with a wingspan of 68″. In grappling, Sumudaerji defends 67% of takedowns and lands 25% of his attempts, while Borjas successfully takes down opponents 10% of the time and stops 65% of opponents’ attempts. In striking, Sumudaerji averages 4.40 strikes landed per minute while absorbing 2.63, while Borjas absorbs 5.99 strikes per minute, landing 5.10.
Who will prevail in tonight’s UFC bout against the spread?
Tony Sink’s Prediction: Back Aljamain Sterling (-270)
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