Brian Ortega vs Aljamain Sterling Prediction: Which of the featherweight veterans is closer to the belt?

Brian Ortega vs Aljamain Sterling: Prediction and odds on the Match on 23 August, 2025

This Saturday at UFC Fight Night, in the Featherweight Division, Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling will face off in the octagon, aiming to impress fans once again. Scheduled as the Co-Main Event (fight 11 of 12) under the 145 lbs (65.8 kg) weight class, this match is expected to be highly exciting. It will take place at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium, Shanghai, China. Johnny Walker is coming into this match from a two-match losing streak, while Mingyang Zhang has won five times in the last five matches. Who will win this encounter? Here at Telecom Asia, we take a look at the match’s preview and offer free betting opportunities.

Brian Ortega's recent form

Brian Ortega boasts a professional record of 16 wins and 4 losses. He is currently coming from a loss. He is affiliated with Black House MMA. He is fighting out of Torrance, California. His last fight was on September 14, 2024 in UFC against Diego Lopes by unanimous decision. Before this match, he faced Yair Rodriguez, winning via an Arm Triangle Choke submission in the third round. Across his 16 victories, three were by way of knockout, eight by submission, and five by decision. In 2010, He signed for the Respect in the Cage promotion and won all four bouts in there. His time there ended in 2014, and he won eight bouts, four losses, and a no-contest. The 34-year-old fighter lost to Yair Rodriguez due to a shoulder injury in the first round. In 2023, Brian Ortega went up three weight classes and headlined against Paulo Costa at UFC 293. He challenged for the UFC Featherweight Championship in 2021 against Alexander Volkanovski and lost by an unanimous decision. However, his performance earned him the UFC 266 Fight of the Night. The previous year, He faced Chan Sung Jung and won by unanimous decision. In 2018, He challenged for the UFC Featherweight Championship against Max Holloway; however, it took the doctor`s intervention in the fourth round to save him from the cage. Yet, his performance earned him the UFC 231 Fight of the Night. Before this bout, he was on a co-main event match-up against Frankie Edgar and won in the first round via punches knockout. Brian Ortega was the first man to ever knock him out. Theo Von hust dropped Brian Ortega in his UFC Debut. Other victories Brian Ortega has recorded in his career were against Cub Swanson (via Guillotine Choke submission in the second round), Renato Moicano (via Guillotine Choke submission in the third round), Diego Brandão (via triangle choke submission), Clay Guida (via Knee & Punches in the third round), and Thiago Tavares (via ground and pound technical knockout).

Brian Ortega`s Strength

Brian Ortega got some pops in his hands, and his shoulder rows out well. He has a good ground game with solid boxing power. His cardio is solid as well.

Aljamain Sterling's recent form

Aljamain Sterling boasts a professional record of 24 wins and 5 losses. He is coming from a loss in his last fight. He is affiliated with Serra Jiu-Jitsu. He was born in the United States, and his fighting out of Cortland, New York. His last fight was on December 07, 2024 in UFC against Movsar Evloev, losing by unanimous decision. Before this match, he faced Jay Jay Wilson, winning via points decision. Across his 24 victories, three were by way of knockout, eight by submission, twelve by decision, and one by disqualification. In 2011, He signed for the Cage Fury Fighting Championship (CFFC) and won all five bouts there. He took a massive opportunity in 2014 when he was signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). So far in the UFC, he has won 16 and has five losses. Sterling secured the championship title in March 2021 after defeating Petr Yan in a closely contested match. Since then, he has defended his title twice, first in a rematch against Yan, where he won via split decision, and then against T.J. Dillashaw with a strike from the back mount. He has lost to Kevin Dantzler via majority decision, Sean O'Malley via Counter Right to Ground Strikes technical knockout in the second round, and Marlon Moraes via a knee knockout in the first round. Other victories Aljamain Sterling has recorded in his career were against Calvin Kattar (via unanimous decision), Chase Hooper (via split decision), Mike Grundy (via unanimous decision), Henry Cejudo (via split decision), Cory Sandhagen (via rear naked choke submission), Pedro Munhoz (via unanimous decision), Jimmie Rivera (via unanimous decision), Brett Johns (via unanimous decision), Cody Stamann (via kneebar submission). Sterling has a proven track record as a title challenger and defender, having won the vacant Cage Fury FC Bantamweight Championship in 2011 against Sean Stella and successfully defending it three times.

Aljamain Sterling`s Strength

Aljamain Sterling is a versatile fighter, but without good boxing. He knows how to give a serious submission with strong wrestling. He has a good ground game.

Brian Ortega vs Aljamain Sterling Betting Insights, Tips & Odds

• Brian Ortega has fought a good number of five-round fights in his career. Two of His recent five-round fights had ended in both a win and a loss by decision. The bookies have Brian Ortega to win by decision at 5.00 odds in the 1xbet bookmaker.
• Aljamain Sterling has won three of his last five matches. However, two of those victories have been by way of a points decision. The bookies have Aljamain Sterling to win by decision at 2.00 odds in the 1xbet bookmaker.

Brian Ortega vs Aljamain Sterling Expert Betting Tip

Aljamain Sterling is the former bantamweight champion, moved to featherweight (debut win vs. Kattar in 2024), and is scheduled to fight Brian Ortega in the co-main event of UFC Shanghai on Aug 23, 2025, live on ESPN+. Brian Ortega, with 1 professional MMA victory in 5 years, defends his 4th featherweight ranking spot against Aljamain Sterling. Aljamain Sterling's frustration with the five-round format for his fight against Brian Ortega at UFC Shanghai stems from the lack of (additional) compensation for the extended duration, despite the increased physical and training demands. Aljo is the better minute winner on the feet and the mat. It should be the guy who finds himself on top. If it goes 25, I would be surprised to see Ortega win multiple rounds, so I like the spread more than ML.

Our First prediction is W2 to win in round 4-5 or on points at 1.83 odds on 1xbet

Our Second Prediction is a W2 to win by decision with odds at 2.00 odds on bet365

Our third prediction is Bout to be won by point victory at 1.60 odds on Betway