Upcoming UFC Event Lineup: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2, Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang scheduled to fight
The UFC is gearing up for an action-packed summer, with a series of exciting fights lined up. On August 23, the spotlight will be on the light heavyweight division as Johnny Walker takes on Zhang Mingyang in a highly anticipated match-up.
Zhang Mingyang, making his UFC Fight Night headlining debut, is the clear favorite in this fight. The Chinese fighter has been making waves in the UFC, with an impressive 3-0 record in the organisation, all wins coming by way of first-round knockouts.
Johnny Walker, an established name in the UFC's light heavyweight division, is coming off consecutive KO losses. His recent struggles, coupled with Zhang's impressive form, have led to odds favoring Zhang heavily. Odds around -350 to -380 are placed on Zhang, compared to Walker’s +275 to +300, reflecting strong confidence in Zhang’s superior power, striking accuracy, and defense.
Walker does have a physical advantage in reach and height, but his wrestling is considered insufficient to counter Zhang’s style. Analysts expect Zhang’s technical striking to neutralize Walker’s inconsistencies. Furthermore, Zhang's style is well-suited to exploit Walker's weaknesses, particularly his susceptibility to powerful strikers and questionable stamina beyond the first round.
Despite the physical advantages Walker holds, experts predict that this fight will be finished early, with Zhang securing the first-round knockout. This prediction is backed by betting line movements and expert picks converging on Zhang via early KO, making it the consensus prediction across multiple sources.
Elsewhere in the UFC's upcoming events, Magomed Ankalaev will defend his light heavyweight title against Alex Pereira on Oct. 4 at UFC 320. The UFC's next pay-per-view features the light heavyweight crown, with Magomed Ankalaev taking the title off "Poatan" seven months ago.
The bantamweight champ, Merab Dvalishvili, will face Cory Sandhagen in the double-headliner. The UFC has also announced a landmark media rights agreement, marking the end of the UFC's PPV (Pay-Per-View) model. The UFC's 2025 event schedule has been released, with events scheduled in cities such as Vancouver, Doha, Qatar, and more.
Stay tuned for more updates as the UFC continues to deliver exhilarating fights and exciting events.
[1] ESPN [2] MMA Junkie [3] Sportskeeda [4] MMA Fighting
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