It was not a good year for this group of UFC fighters until Johnny Walker arrived on the scene.
Walker proved plenty wrong in the MMA community with his performance in China this past Saturday.
While Zhang Mingyang was widely predicted to become the latest man to knock the Brazilian out and secure a highlight-reel win in front of his home fans, Walker finished Zhang in the UFC Shanghai headliner to end the card with a major upset.
The result got the veteran light heavyweight contender back on track after a run of three fights without a win, and it was also key in breaking a curse that had plagued some of his nation’s best fighters in 2025.
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Brazilians were 0-10 in UFC main events before Johnny Walker’s win
Walker’s assignment at Shanghai Indoor Stadium on August 23 marked the 11th UFC main event for a Brazilian fighter in 2025. Remarkably, one of MMA’s most successful countries of all time had gone 0-10 in headline spots this year.
The tone was set in January when Brazilian contenders were on the losing side of both main events. After Amanda Ribas was submitted at the Apex, Islam Makhachev defeated Renato Moicano at UFC 311 in Los Angeles to successfully defend the lightweight title.
Arguably Brazil’s top star was unable to boost things at UFC 313 in March, where Alex Pereira lost his title to Magomed Ankalaev.
Since then, there have been defeats for Diego Lopes, Carlos Prates, Deiveson Figueiredo, Gilbert Burns, and Tallison Teixeira. Among the most recent was also a difficult night at the office for Charles Oliveira. After Makhachev vacated the 155-pound belt, Ilia Topuria knocked out Oliveira at UFC 317 to succeed the Dagestani.
Against the odds, it took Walker to break the curse and make it 1-10.
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Three of the next four UFC main events will feature Brazilian stars
After Walker broke the curse, a few more Brazilians have the chance to continue their nation’s momentum in the main event spotlight.
Following a short break, the UFC’s stint overseas will take the Octagon back to Paris, France, on September 6. The main event will see Caio Borralho battle Nassourdine Imavov with a potential shot at Khamzat Chimaev’s middleweight title on the line.
Brazil is then guaranteed a headline win when the third edition of Noche UFC takes place at San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center. The main event on September 13 will feature high stakes at featherweight between Jean Silva and Diego Lopes.
A few weeks later, the October schedule will kick off with Pereira’s chance for revenge at UFC 320. After being unseated by Ankalaev, ‘Poatan’ will look to make a quick return to the light heavyweight throne and boost Brazil’s tally of active champions back up.