Ortega vs. Sterling: Weight Change at UFC Fight Night
The highly anticipated showdown between Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling will take place this Saturday at UFC Fight Night in Shanghai, but with a significant change in weight class.
Originally scheduled for the featherweight category, the fight will now be contested at the lightweight limit of 155 pounds.
Both Ortega and Sterling weighed in at 153 pounds at Friday’s weigh-in.
The UFC has not specified the reasons behind this change, although it is well known that Ortega has had difficulties meeting the 145-pound featherweight limit, and has considered permanently moving up a weight class.
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 bantamweight champion, moved up to featherweight after losing the title against Sean O’Malley in August 2019. The 36-year-old fighter is looking for a second belt in the UFC and has a 1-1 record in his new category, his defeat was against Movsar Evloev in December.
Ortega has had a 1-3 record in his last four fights, although two of those losses were against undisputed or interim champions.
