Johnny Walker vs Zhang Mingyang
UFC Shanghai Event
Mercedes-Benz Arena, Shanghai, China
Saturday, August 23, 2025
On Saturday, August 23, 2025, Johnny Walker will face off against Zhang Mingyang at UFC Shanghai. The initial betting odds favor Walker at +249 and Mingyang at -309.
Johnny Walker aims to enhance his record, currently sitting at 21 wins, 9 losses, and 0 draws (1 NC). At 33 years old, he weighs 205 lbs and stands 6’6″ tall, boasting a wingspan of 82 inches. Conversely, Zhang “Mountain Tiger” Mingyang, aged 27, weighs 204 lbs and is 6’2″ tall, with a reach of 75 inches. He’s looking to improve his record to 20-6-0. When it comes to significant strikes, Walker averages 3.87 connections per minute, while Mingyang scores 10.91 significant strikes per minute. Walker successfully lands 53% of his significant strikes, whereas Mingyang has a 64% success rate. In terms of defense, Walker absorbs an average of 3.12 significant strikes per minute, while Mingyang takes 4.55 strikes. Walker defends against 44% of the strikes aimed at him, while Mingyang successfully defends against 53% of incoming strikes.
| UFC Shanghai | Johnny Walker | Zhang Mingyang |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Odds | +249 | -309 |
| Fighter Record | 21-9-0 (1 NC) | 19-6-0 |
| Average Fight Duration | 6:43 | 3:02 |
| Height | 6’6″ | 6’2″ |
| Weight | 205 lbs | 204 lbs |
| Reach | 82″ | 75″ |
| Strikes Landed per Minute | 3.87 | 10.91 |
| Striking Accuracy | 53% | 64% |
In terms of grappling, Johnny Walker demonstrates superior wrestling skills with an average of 0.45 takedowns per 15 minutes, achieving a remarkable 90% success rate. He effectively defends against 57% of takedown attempts. On the other hand, Mingyang executes 10% of his takedown attempts, successfully defending against 50% of those directed at him. Walker also shows his submission capability with an average of 0.9 submission attempts every 15 minutes, compared to Mingyang’s 0.3 attempts over three rounds.
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In his preceding match, Johnny Walker faced Volkan Oezdemir but lost via a head punch in the first round. Oezdemir accurately landed 37 of his 67 attempted strikes. Walker managed to connect on 15 out of 33 total strikes. In terms of significant strikes, Oezdemir’s accuracy stood at 55%, while Walker achieved a 45% success rate, landing 15 of 33. Out of Walker’s hits, 6 of 20 were targeted at the head, whereas Oezdemir struck 89% of his significant shots from a distance, with 100% of Walker’s significant strikes also thrown from range.
For Zhang Mingyang, his most recent bout was against Anthony Smith, where he secured a victory with an elbow strike in the first round. Smith landed all of his significant strikes attempted at a distance, while Mingyang hit 55% of his significant strikes from a distance. Mingyang succeeded with 77% accuracy, landing 63 of 81 significant strikes, with 42 of 58 targeting the head. Smith managed 10 of 21 significant strikes during their matchup, including 8 of 18 directed at the head. Overall, Smith connected on 11 of his 22 strikes, while Mingyang achieved an impressive count of 76 out of 97 attempted strikes.
Additional Fights to Watch on the Card
Another must-see bout features Brian Ortega against Aljamain Sterling. Ortega enters the cage with a record of 16-4-0 (1 NC). The 34-year-old weighs 145 lbs and measures 5’8″. The switch fighter boasts a reach of 69″. Sterling, on the other hand, stands at 5’7″ and weighs 144 lbs, with a career record of 24-5-0 and a reach of 71″. Regarding takedown statistics, Brian Ortega averages 1.07 takedowns per three rounds, whereas Aljamain Sterling records 2.51 takedowns per three rounds. In striking metrics, Ortega lands an average of 4.08 strikes per minute, hitting 37% of his attempts, compared to Sterling’s 4.41 strikes per minute with 52% accuracy.
A compelling matchup to witness is between Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Sergei Pavlovich. Pavlovich, looking to boost his 19-3-0 record, is 33 years old, weighs 257 lbs, and is 6’3″ tall. The southpaw fighter has a reach of 84 inches. Cortes-Acosta, standing 6’4″ and weighing 260 lbs, aims to enhance his record of 14-1-0. Both fighters exhibit grappling acumen, with Pavlovich stopping 75% of takedown attempts against him and successfully scoring takedowns 40% of the time. Cortes-Acosta achieves a 50% takedown success rate and defends against 66% of takedown attempts. In terms of striking output, Pavlovich absorbs 3.81 strikes per minute while delivering 4.54, whereas Cortes-Acosta absorbs 3.43 strikes per minute and lands 5.98 strikes per minute.
Who will claim victory in tonight’s UFC matchup?
Guy Bruhn’s Prediction: Favor Johnny Walker (+249)
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