On Wednesday, June 25th, UFC Fight Night 257 received a major boost with the announcement of Brian Ortega vs. Aljamain Sterling at 145 lbs (featherweight). The card is set for Saturday, August 23, 2025, in Shanghai, China, with the bout serving as the co-main event alongside Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang. Yet, just a day before fight night, the matchup underwent a sudden shift.

The weight class was altered from 145 lbs to a 153-pound catchweight. The reason soon became clear, although an official reason wasn’t provided. At the official weigh-ins, Ortega and Sterling faced off one last time before their clash. But when Ortega stepped on the scale, he appeared visibly depleted—propped up by sheer determination rather than strength. Footage of his drained, unsteady frame, staggering slowl

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