Li Jingliang


Li Jingliang is a Chinese mixed martial artist who competes as a welterweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Background

Originally from a small town in the Xinjiang Province of Northwest China, Li competed in Chinese wrestling and trained in Sanda before moving to Beijing in order to pursue a career in professional mixed martial arts. Li began training under the tutelage of current UFC Lightweight Zhang Tiequan.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Li made his professional debut in 2007, winning via submission due to punches in the second round. He would go on to compile a record of 8-2, capturing the Legend FC Welterweight Championship in the process, before being granted his release and signed by the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Li made his promotional debut on May 24, 2014, at UFC 173 against American fighter David Michaud, who had an undefeated record of 7–0. Li defeated Michaud via split decision, giving Michaud the first loss of his career.
Li faced French fighter Nordine Taleb on October 4, 2014, at. Li was able to take Taleb down multiple times throughout the fight and even successfully land significantly more strikes as Taleb was content to counter strike throughout the bout. In a surprising result, Taleb was given the victory by split decision.
Li was expected to face American fighter Roger Zapata on May 16, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 66. However, on April 18, it was announced that Zapata was pulled from the fight due to undisclosed reasons and replaced by Brazilian fighter Dhiego Lima. Li defeated Lima via knockout in the first round.
Li was expected to face Japanese fighter Kiichi Kunimoto on September 27, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 75. However, Kunimoto pulled out of the fight in late August citing injury and was replaced by returning Japanese veteran Keita Nakamura. After dominating the first two rounds, Li lost the fight via technical submission in the third round.
Li subsequently faced Australian fighter Anton Zafir on July 8, 2016, at. Li defeated Zafir via knockout in the first round,
Li was expected to face Canadian fighter Chad Laprise on December 10, 2016, at UFC 206. However, Laprise pulled out of the fight on November 16 citing an undisclosed injury. As a result, Li was pulled from the card entirely and rescheduled to a future event.
Li was expected to face American fighter Yancy Medeiros on January 28, 2017, at UFC on Fox 23. However, in early January, Medeiros pulled out for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by American fighter Bobby Nash. Li defeated Nash via knockout in the second round.
Li faced Northern Mariana Islands fighter Frank Camacho on June 17, 2017, at. Li defeated Camacho via unanimous decision. The win also earned Li his second Fight of the Night bonus award.
Li faced Zak Ottow on November 25, 2017, at. He won the fight via TKO in the first round. The win also earned Li his first Performance of the Night bonus award.
Li faced Jake Matthews on February 11, 2018, at UFC 221. He lost the fight via unanimous decision and received criticism for his eye gouge of Matthews. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night bonus.
Li faced Daichi Abe on June 23, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 132. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Li was scheduled to face Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos on November 24, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 141. However on October 27, 2018, it was reported that Zaleski withdrew from the bout due to a partial ligament tear in his right knee, and he is replaced by David Zawada. He won the fight via technical knockout in round three.
Li was expected to face Alex Oliveira on April 27, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 3. However, on March 24, 2019, it was report Li pulled from the bout, citing injury.
A pairing with Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos was rescheduled and took place on August 31, 2019, at UFC on ESPN+ 15. Li won the fight via technical knockout in round three. The win earned Li his third Performance of the Night bonus award.
Li faced Neil Magny on March 7, 2020 at UFC 248. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments