No. 13-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Johnny Walker will square off against surging Chinese knockout artist Zhang Mingyang in the main event of UFC Shanghai this weekend (Sat., Aug. 23, 2025), inside China’s Shanghai Indoor Stadium.
So far, no one has been able to solve Zhang inside the Octagon. “Mountain Tiger” has bulldozed his way through the bottom of the 205 lb division, stopping every single opponent in under five minutes — including former title challenger Anthony
Smith (watch highlights). The 27-year-old wrecking machine is riding a 12-fight win streak, all in the first round, with 10 coming by knockout.
Walker, who has struggled with durability in his UFC losses, knows he’s got his hands full.
“He is a big challenge for me,” Walker told reporters during UFC Shanghai media day. “He’s on a big win streak and is a powerful guy with a lot of finishes in the first round. He’s dangerous, so I must play it smart to beat him.”
If that “smart” game plan involves grappling, though, Walker hasn’t thought about it (uh-oh).
“No. I’m a striker, and I’m going to strike with him,” Walker concluded.
Of course, the Brazilian could be keeping his cards close to the chest. Now training under Eric Nicksick at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas — a coach known for detailed game plans (except for Roman Doldize)— Walker may have a trick or two in his back pocket.
Still, the timing couldn’t be tougher. Walker enters UFC Shanghai on the third two-fight losing skid of his Octagon career, having been violently knocked out in back-to-back bouts (watch highlights). A win would stabilize his position in the rankings … but another knockout loss to the Chinese phenom could push him to the brink of irrelevance in a crowded division.
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