Tonight in Shanghai, Johnny Walker stunned the local hero Zhang Mingyang in the UFC Fight Night main event. The fight started with Zhang in control—he pressured Walker and landed heavy shots, forcing the Brazilian to play defensively and retreat through round one. Zhang’s aggressive striking and top control showcased his skill, but he couldn’t land a finishing blow.
Walker regrouped in the second round, adjusting his strategy. Instead of trading punches, he used low calf kicks to target Zhang’s lead leg. One particularly powerful kick caused Zhang to buckle, immediately shifting the fight’s momentum. Sensing the opportunity, Walker attacked with ground-and-pound strikes. The referee stopped the bout at 2:37 into the second round, declaring Walker the winner via TKO (leg kicks and punches).
Technically, Walker’s victory highlighted the effectiveness of calf kicks to weaken a mobile striker. Once Zhang’s mobility was compromised, Walker maintained control and finished with quick, accurate punches on the ground. This win snaps Walker’s recent losing streak and ends Zhang’s 12-fight run, proving how critical fight adjustments and targeting a fighter’s base can be at the highest level of MMA.