At UFC Shanghai, featherweight contenders Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling face off in the highly anticipated co-main event. Sterling enters the fight as the favorite with odds of -265, while Ortega is seen as the +200 underdog. This matchup draws significant attention due to Sterling’s recent move to featherweight and his pursuit of another title shot.

Professional Fighters Predict Sterling’s Victory Over Ortega

Several professional fighters shared their predictions on the upcoming bout, with all siding in favor of Sterling’s victory. The consensus among the pros aligns with the oddsmakers, highlighting Sterling’s wrestling and grappling superiority as the deciding factors in this fight.

UFC middleweight Eryk Anders described the matchup as a grappling battle, stating Sterling will likely control Ortega on the ground and earn a decision win. UFC lightweight Drakkar Klose believes Sterling’s wrestling will dominate, citing his success at featherweight and recent performances against Movsar. Bantamweight Davey Grant, who trains with Sterling, expressed confidence in Sterling’s skills and predicted a decision win through control.

Light heavyweight Modestas Bukauskas praised Sterling’s impressive form at featherweight and favored him to take the fight. Featherweight Billy Quarantillo credited Sterling’s wrestling as the key advantage enabling him to outmaneuver Ortega. Lastly, bantamweight Colby Thicknesse expects Sterling to secure a safe decision victory by effectively using his wrestling.

Unanimous Fighter Support Highlights Sterling’s Path Forward

None of the fighters consulted predicted a win for Brian Ortega, underscoring the strong confidence in Sterling’s abilities within the professional community. This unanimous support suggests Sterling is poised to claim a dominant victory that could strengthen his claim for a future title challenge in the featherweight division.

With such wide backing from experienced fighters and oddsmakers, the Aljamain Sterling UFC fight prediction is clearly optimistic for Sterling’s success at UFC Shanghai. This showdown will likely serve as an important step in his career trajectory as he aims to establish himself firmly among the division’s top contenders.