Michael Bisping stunned as UFC Shanghai main event ends in shocking fashion and crowd is silenced
Johnny Walker pulled off a shocking upset by stopping Zhang Mingyang in the main event of UFC Shanghai.
Walker was a huge underdog heading into the light heavyweight bout against China’s hero Mingyang, who has now subsequently tasted defeat for the first time in his UFC career.
Mingyang had dominated the opening exchanges of the fight, but found himself wobbling following a nasty calf kick from his Brazilian counterpart.
No. 13-ranked Walker immediately capitalised on his wounded opponent and pounded on the ‘Mountain Tiger’ to finish the fight on the canvas.
You could’ve heard a pin drop inside the Shanghai Indoor Stadium, and the crowd couldn’t believe their eyes.
“That was shocking,” UFC commentator Michael Bisping uttered as Walker closed the show in style.
Fellow UFC broadcaster Laura Sanko chimed in: “Johnny Walker wanted to prove that there are levels to this game, and that is exactly what he just did.”
“One low calf kick changed everything,” Bisping added as Walker celebrated by doing the worm in the centre of the octagon.
“I said it before: Will [Walker] worm his way to victory? And that’s precisely what he did.”
Mingyang went into the UFC Shanghai main event on a 12-fight first-round finish winning streak.
In fact, all 19 of his professional MMA victories had ended before the final bell.
The 27-year-old had been labelled China’s next big MMA star with high hopes from fans that he would one day become a UFC champion.
But Walker proved he is a force to be reckoned with in the light heavyweight division, and called for a fight with No.5 Jan Blachowicz next.
The 33-year-old from Brazil instantly shot for a takedown in the first few seconds of round one.
But he must’ve realised it was a huge mistake when he found himself on his back trying to avoid the nasty, trademark elbows of Mingyang.
Both men then made their way to the feet, and an electrifying start to the Shanghai main event had the two light heavyweights swinging.
Mingyang was able to stuff a second takedown attempt from Walker towards the end of the opening stanza and would’ve been feeling confident on the judges’ scorecard heading into the second.
The Chinese powerhouse put his foot on the gas right at the start of round two.
However, Walker, who had already caught Mingyang with nine leg kicks, was able to avoid the early onslaught and crack his opponent with another.
You could tell Mingyang instantly felt the pain in his calf after the kick, as his entire demeanour shifted into retreat mode.
Walker then smelt blood and followed up with several ground and pound strikes.
Mingyang couldn’t make it back to his feet, leaving referee Marc Goddard no other choice but to wave off the fight.
Who won at UFC Shanghai?
UFC Shanghai marked the first time the promotion had entered China in years.
Elsewhere on the card, Aljamain Sterling outpointed Brian Ortega in a dull five-round co-main event.
UFC Shanghai Results
Main card
- Johnny Walker def. Zhang Mingyang via second-round TKO
- Aljamain Sterling def. Brian Ortega via unanimous decision
- Sergei Pavlovich def. Waldo Cortes-Acosta via unanimous decision
- Sumudaerji def. Kevin Borjas via unanimous decision
- Taiyilake Nueraji def. Kiefer Crosbie via round-one TKO
Ortega had struggled with cutting weight in the buildup to the fight, so it was contested at a catchweight limit of 153lbs.
‘T-City’ failed to offer anything of note throughout the 25 minutes, and all three judges awarded a 50-45 unanimous decision win to Sterling, who proceeded to call out UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Also on the card, Sergei Pavlovich defeated Waldo Cortes-Acosta at heavyweight, while Chinese stars Sumudaerji and Taiyilake Nueraji both claimed victories.
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