Brian Ortega vs. Aljamain Sterling at UFC Shanghai just got a makeover—and not an easy one.
Weigh-In Shake-Up—153 Pounds Catchweight
The two fighters both weighed in at 153 pounds—way over the featherweight limit (146 lbs).
With Ortega’s weight-cutting woes, the fight turned into a 153-pound catchweight fight—and it’s still being done as the 5-round co-main event.
Sterling’s Got a Problem—“No bump in pay for 5 rounds? That’s f*cking dumb!”
Sterling is not down for the extra rounds free of charge.
He called BS on the non-title, co-main event, and the fact that the fight’s got stamina and risk for now 5 rounds with no financial incentive for the fighters.
Ortega’s Counter—“I’ve been training for 5 rounds since 2017”
Ortega brushed off Sterling’s frustrations by saying he believes the promotion added the rounds for the added hype and drama for fans.
He says he has a five-round conditioning program and this is not a big deal for him to plan for.
Clutch Crunch Breakdown
Catchweight U-Turn: This changes what could’ve been a total throw away to now a legit, high-stakes co-main.
Sterling’s $$$ Complaint: Should show that fighters aren’t just gritting it out, they want to make sure they get paid for it.
Ortega’s Mental Tact: It could give him a life advantage to be calm when everything is chaos.
Last Word
This fight is not only happening, it’s evolving. Catchweight, five rounds, and it can still affect the title implications. For both Ortega and Sterling, this is not just a scrap, it’s a statement! Buckle up Clutch Crunch fans, its about to go down.
Let me know if you’d like something in a social graphic teaser (153 catchweight, “Still On” text), or a quick fight breakdown when the dust settles post-fight!