Sterling tops Ortega at 153-pound catchweight in Shanghai

Brian Ortega’s troubled weight cut dominated fight week at UFC Shanghai and cast a long shadow over Saturday’s co-main event, which ultimately went ahead at a 153 pound catchweight and ended with Aljamain Sterling claiming a unanimous decision victory. The bout, held at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium on Aug. 23, was originally promoted as a five-round featherweight clash but was reshuffled after Ortega experienced complications trying to make 145 pounds at Friday’s official weigh-ins.

Initial reports late Thursday suggested Ortega had been unable to step on the scale and that the fight might be canceled after the former two-time title challenger was taken for medical attention. UFC officials, however, later announced the fight would proceed at a 153 pound limit. Commentators at the weigh-ins described the situation as in doubt rather than canceled, and both Ortega and Sterling weighed in at 153, according to UFC results. Ortega wrote simply, Love you guys, on social media after the weigh-in.

Inside the cage Sterling controlled the action across five rounds and left with a clear unanimous decision. All three judges scored the contest 50-45 in favor of the former bantamweight...