Brian Ortega vs Aljamain Sterling UFC Shanghai’s fight shifted to a new weight category. Here's why

The featherweight clash between Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling will go ahead at UFC Fight Night in Shanghai on Saturday (August 23), but at a different weight class. Both fighters weighed in at 153 pounds on Friday, and the bout will now be contested in the 155-pound catchweight category.

The UFC did not give an official reason for the adjustment, though Ortega’s well-documented difficulties cutting to the 145-pound featherweight limit likely played a role in the change. Ortega enters the bout with a 16-4 record, while Sterling stands at 24-5.

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According to cagesidepress.com, the full UFC Fight Night card had already weighed in before officials confirmed that Ortega and Sterling both came in at 153 pounds for their co-main event clash. That figure is significantly higher than the featherweight limit of 146 pounds, where the fight was originally contracted.

The reason soon became clear as Ortega once again had difficulty with his weight cut, something that has troubled him throughout his career. The UFC subsequently shifted the matchup to catchweight, allowing the bout to proceed without cancellation.


Sterling jumped to featherweight at UFC 300 last year, where he impressed with a debut victory over Calvin Kattar. However, his momentum stalled in December with a setback against unbeaten contender Movsar Evloev.

Ortega, meanwhile, has struggled to find consistency, going 1-3 across his last four outings. He enters this fight looking to rebound after a defeat to Diego Lopes.

The matchup, now shifted to catchweight after weigh-in issues, is slated as a five-round, non-title co-main event at UFC Fight Night in Shanghai’s Mercedes-Benz Arena.

WHAT IS CATCHWEIGHT?

A catchweight fight is a non-standard, mutually agreed-upon weight limit, set outside of the official divisions. It usually happens when one or both fighters can’t make their designated weight class.

For instance, if the lightweight limit is 155 pounds and the welterweight limit is 170 pounds, the fighters might agree to compete at 160 if they fail to make the desired weight.

In simpler terms, a catchweight bout means the fighters are meeting in the middle at a weight not formally recognised as a division.