Here’s what you need to know to watch UFC Fight Night 257 on ESPN+.
The UFC is in Shanghai, China, for the first time in nearly eight years with a pair of light heavyweight standouts atop the card.
Here’s how to watch UFC Fight Night 257 with 205-pounders in the headlining spot, plus a former champ in the co-main event.
Broadcast and streaming info
UFC Fight Night 257 has a main card that streams at 6 a.m. ET on ESPN+. The preliminary card streams on ESPN+ at 3 a.m. ET.
Stay tuned to MMA Junkie for more broadcast details this week.
Main event: Johnny Walker
- Record: 21-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC
- Opponent: Zhang Mingyang (19-6 MMA, 3-0 UFC)
- Division: Light heavyweight
- Key wins: Anthony Smith, Paul Craig, Ion Cutelaba, Khalil Rountree Jr.
- Misc.: After a pair of cancellations earlier this year, the Brazilian is back for the first time in more than a year – and looking to snap a two-fight skid of knockout losses to then-future title challenger Magomed Ankalaev and former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir. Prior to that, he had a trio of wins over Ion Cutelaba, Paul Craig and former title challenger Anthony Smith that put him into the title picture.
Main event: Zhang Mingyang
- Record: 19-6 MMA, 3-0 UFC
- Opponent: Johnny Walker (21-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC)
- Division: Light heavyweight
- Key wins: Anthony Smith
- Misc.: Mingyang hasn’t lost in nearly three years. Since that 2019 setback, it’s been nothing but first-round finishes, including all three of his UFC fights – all three of which have come with $50,000 bonuses. In April, he took out former title challenger Anthony Smith for his biggest win yet.
Co-main event: Brian Ortega
- Record: 16-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC
- Opponent: Aljamain Sterling (24-5 MMA, 16-5 UFC)
- Division: Featherweight
- Key wins: Yair Rodriguez (rematch), Chan Sung Jung, Frankie Edgar, Cub Swanson, Renato Moicano
- Misc.: It’s been a rough run for the two-time title challenger. After a perfect 14-0 start to his career, he’s gone 2-4 starting with a 2018 title challenge loss to Max Holloway. Injuries haven’t helped him, either. He’s dropped three of his past four and will be fighting for the first time in nearly a year.
Co-main event: Aljamain Sterling
- Record: 24-5 MMA, 16-5 UFC
- Opponent: Brian Ortega (16-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC)
- Division: Featherweight
- Key wins: Calvin Kattar, Henry Cejudo, T.J. Dillashaw, Petr Yan (twice), Cory Sandhagen
- Misc.: After three defenses of the bantamweight title, Sterling dropped the belt to Sean O’Malley two years ago this week. After the loss, he moved up to featherweight – in part so his friend, teammate and current champ Merab Dvalishvili could go after the 135-pound title. Sterling won his 145-pound debut against Calvin Kattar, but will be working off a loss to Movsar Evloev in his follow-up.
UFC Fight Night 257 lineup
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 6 a.m. ET)
- Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang
- Brian Ortega vs. Aljamain Sterling
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Sergei Pavlovich
- Kevin Borjas vs. Su Mudaerji
- Kiefer Crosbie vs. Taiyilake Nueraji
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 3 a.m. ET)
- Hayisaer Maheshate vs. Gauge Young
- Charles Johnson vs. Lone’er Kavanagh
- Austin Hubbard vs. Rong Zhu
- Kyle Daukaus vs. Michel Pereira
- Yi Zha vs. Westin Wilson
- Xiao Long vs. SuYoung You
- Diyar Nurgozhay vs. Uran Satybaldiev
UFC Fight Night 257 main card betting odds
- Walker +340, Mingyang -500
- Ortega +220, Sterling -295
- Cortes-Acosta +190, Pavlovich -250
- Borjas +125, Mudaerji -160
- Crosbie +255, Nueraji -350
UFC Fight Night 257 prelim betting odds
- Maheshate -105, Young -125
- Johnson +170, Kavanagh -220
- Hubbard +255, Zhu -350
- Daukaus +250, Pereira -340
- Zha -1600, Wilson +750
- Long +115, You -145
- Nurgozhay +175, Satybaldiev -210
