UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang features a showdown between ranked light heavyweights as No. 13 Johnny Walker faces off against No. 14 Zhang Mingyang this Saturday. The event will take place at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium in Xuhui District, China, with the main card kicking off at 6 a.m. ET. Walker aims to secure his first victory in over two years after his knockout loss to Volkan Oezdemir on June 22, 2024. Meanwhile, Zhang is coming off a TKO victory against Anthony Smith at UFC on ESPN in April.
Zhang is favored with odds at -350 (bet $350 to win $100), while Walker sits at +280 in the latest betting lines from DraftKings Sportsbook. The co-main event features Aljamain Sterling as a -270 favorite against Brian Ortega, who is listed at +220 in a featherweight bout. Before placing any bets on this matchup, check out SportsLine’s predictions and betting advice from expert Daniel Vithlani.
Vithlani, a data-driven UFC bettor, has consistently delivered winning insights for SportsLine members since starting in January 2023, boasting a perfect 5-0 at UFC 283. He has gained over $1,500 on his main-card betting picks. Some of his highlighted calls include correctly predicting Sean O’Malley’s upset over Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 and his selections from UFC 299, which featured underdog picks like Dustin Poirier against Benoit Saint Denis.
Vithlani has meticulously analyzed the Walker vs. Zhang matchup from various angles and has shared his top betting picks and best bets. Visit SportsLine to see his detailed analysis. New users can take advantage of the latest bet365 bonus code offering $200 in bonus bets after a $5 wager.
Matchup Overview
Zhang, 27, hailing from Fuyang, Anhui, China, will be competing in front of a home crowd. With a record of 12 consecutive wins, including four since joining the UFC, he has earned accolades such as three Performance of the Night awards and a rank as the No. 6 Newcomer of the Year for 2024. His MMA career started at age 16, and he boasts a record of 19-6, with 13 knockouts and six submissions.
Walker, 33, originally from Brazil but now fighting out of Dublin, Ireland, kicked off his professional career in December 2013. After winning his first three fights, he participated in Dana White’s Contender Series Brazil 2, securing a UFC contract in 2018. He has an overall record of 21-9-1, highlighting 16 wins by knockout and four Performance of the Night honors. His journey includes being recognized as the 2018 European Beatdown light heavyweight champion.
Expert Predictions
One of Vithlani’s notable predictions for UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang is for Su Young Yu (-130) to defeat Long Xiao (+115) in a bantamweight match on the early preliminary card. Vithlani explains that while Xiao is a tenacious pressure striker, Yu’s grappling skills could be decisive. If Yu can implement early takedowns, he may be able to control the fight and avoid a slugfest.
For detailed insights into who will win between Walker and Zhang and how the fight may unfold, visit SportsLine to access expert predictions and analysis from Vithlani, who is currently up over $1,500 on his UFC main-card picks.
