Ortega vs. Sterling: Weight Change for the Shanghai Fight
The expected featherweight clash between Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling will undergo a significant change for UFC Fight Night in Shanghai.
Originally scheduled for the featherweight category, the fight will now be contested in the lightweight division, with a limit of 155 pounds.
Both Ortega and Sterling weighed in at 153 pounds at Friday’s weigh-in.
This category change could be a strategy, given that Ortega has had difficulties making weight in the featherweight category (145 pounds) and has seriously considered a permanent change.
The fight, which is not for the title, is scheduled for five rounds and will be the co-main event at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Sterling, former 135-pound champion, moved up to featherweight after losing his title to Sean O’Malley in August 2019. The 36-year-old fighter is seeking his second UFC belt and has a 1-1 record in his new category, with his most recent loss to Movsar Evloev in December.
For his part, Ortega has a 1-3 record in his last four fights. Two of these losses were against champions, Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez.
