Johnny Walker and Zhang Mingyang brought weirdness, violence, and excitement to the cage in the UFC Fight Night 257 main event Saturday.
The light heavyweight bout was scheduled for five rounds, but they all were not needed. Walker (21-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) finished Zhang (19-6 MMA, 3-0 UFC) with a violent and diversified beatdown barrage for the stoppage at 2:37 of Round 2.
The event took place at Shanghai Indoor Stadium in Shanghai, and those in attendance were silenced by the result.
After a bizarre first round that saw Zhang edge Walker, who unsucessfully shot for a takedown in the first three seconds, Walker utilized a pair of leg kicks to sit Zhang down in Round 2.
Zhang tried his hardest to survive as he nearly got back to his feet twice in the chaos. However, with his legal debilitated, Zhang was unable to dissuade the damage. Referee Marc Goddard stepped in and called off the fight.
With the victory, Walker snaps a three-fight winless streak (two losses and one no contest). The victory was his first since he beat Anthony Smith by unanimous decision in May 2023.
In defeat, Zhang loses for the first time in the UFC after promotional victories over Brendson Ribeiro, Ozzy Diaz, and Anthony Smith.
Up-to-the-minute UFC Shanghai results:
- Johnny Walker def. Zhang Mingyang via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:37
- Aljamain Sterling def. Brian Ortega via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
- Sergei Pavlovich def. Waldo Cortes-Acosta via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Su Mudaerji def. Kevin Borjas via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Taiyilake Nueraji def. Kiefer Crosbie via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 3:33
- Gauge Young def. Hayisaer Maheshate via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Charles Johnson def. Lone’er Kavanagh via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 4:35
- Rong Zhu def. Austin Hubbard via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Kyle Daukaus def. Michel Pereira via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:43
- Yi Zha def. Westin Wilson via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:37
- SuYoung You def. Xiao Long via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Uran Satybaldiev def. Diyar Nurgozhay via submission (Ezekiel choke) – Round 1, 2:45
