Li Jingliang

Li Jingliang (Chinese: 李景亮; pinyin: Lǐ Jǐngliàng; born March 20, 1988) is a Chinese mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Background Originally from a small town near Tacheng in the Xinjiang UAR of Northwest China, Li competed in Chinese wrestling and trained in Sanda before moving to Beijing in 2008 in order to pursue a career in professional mixed martial arts. Li began training under the tutelage of former 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 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 Nordine Taleb on October 4, 2014, at UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Saffiedine. 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 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 won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Li was expected to face 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 faced Anton Zafir on July 8, 2016, at The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale. Li defeated Zafir via knockout in the first round.

Li was expected to face 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 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 Bobby Nash. Li defeated Nash via knockout in the second round.

Li faced Frank Camacho on June 17, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Correia. He won the fight via unanimous decision. This win earned Li his second Fight of the Night bonus award.

Li faced Zak Ottow on November 25, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum. 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.

Li was expected to be in a pairing with Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos that was rescheduled and took place on August 31, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 157. 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.

Li was scheduled to face Dwight Grant on December 12, 2020, at UFC 256. However, on December 8, 2020, Grant tested positive for COVID-19 during fight week and had to pull out. A replacement opponent for Li wasn't able to be found, and therefore Li was removed from the event.

Li faced Santiago Ponzinibbio, replacing Muslim Salikhov, on January 16, 2021, at UFC on ABC 1. He won the fight via first-round knockout. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Li faced Khamzat Chimaev on October 30, 2021, at UFC 267. He lost the bout after getting choked unconscious via rear-naked choke in the first round.

Li faced Muslim Salikhov on July 16, 2022, at UFC on ABC 3. He won the fight via TKO in the second round. This win earned him Performance of the Night bonus award.

Li was scheduled to face Tony Ferguson on September 10, 2022, at UFC 279. However, due to Khamzat Chimaev missing weight, Li faced Daniel Rodriguez who was originally scheduled to face Kevin Holland in a catchweight bout. He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision. 21 out of 23 media scores gave it to Li.

Li was scheduled to face Michael Chiesa on April 8, 2023, at UFC 287. However, Li pulled out of the bout due to a spine injury.

Li faced Carlos Prates on August 17, 2024 at UFC 305. He lost the fight by knockout in the second round, which was the first knockout loss in his career.

Personal life Li and his wife have a daughter (born 2015) and a son (born 2020).

Championships and accomplishments Mixed Martial Arts Legend Fighting Championship Legend FC Welterweight Championship (One time) Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (Two times) vs Frank Camacho and Jake Matthews Performance of the Night (Five times) Tied (Josh Koscheck) for sixth most finishes in UFC Welterweight division history (8) 2013 1st place - 92 kg (Purple Belt)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Carlos Prates KO (punches) UFC 305

Perth, Australia Loss

Daniel Rodriguez Decision (split) UFC 279

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Muslim Salikhov TKO (punches and elbows) UFC on ABC: Ortega vs. Rodríguez

Elmont, New York, United States Loss

Khamzat Chimaev Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 267

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Santiago Ponzinibbio KO (punch) UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Loss

Neil Magny Decision (unanimous) UFC 248

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Zhang

Shenzhen, China Win

David Zawada KO (body kick) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2

Beijing, China Win

Daichi Abe Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Edwards

Kallang, Singapore Loss

Jake Matthews Decision (unanimous) UFC 221

Perth, Australia Win

Zak Ottow TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum

Shanghai, China Win

Frank Camacho Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Correia

Kallang, Singapore Win

Bobby Nash KO (punches) UFC on Fox: Shevchenko vs. Peña

Denver, Colorado, United States Win

Anton Zafir KO (punches) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Keita Nakamura Technical Submission (standing rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson

Saitama, Japan Win

Dhiego Lima KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber

Pasay, Philippines Loss

Nordine Taleb Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Saffiedine

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Win

David Michaud Decision (split) UFC 173

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Luke Jumeau Submission (guillotine choke) Legend FC 11

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Win

Dan Pauling Decision (unanimous) Legend FC 9

Macau, SAR, China Loss

Myung Ho Bae Decision (unanimous) Legend FC 7

Macau, SAR, China Win

Alex Niu Decision (unanimous) Legend FC 5

Hong Kong, SAR, China Win

Tony Rossini Technical Submission (guillotine choke) Legend FC 4

Hong Kong, SAR, China Win

Andrei Liu TKO (punches) Legend FC 3

Hong Kong, SAR, China Loss

Pat Crawley Decision (unanimous) Legend FC 2

Hong Kong, SAR, China Win

Yun Tao Gong Submission (guillotine choke) AOW 15: Ueyama vs. Aohailin

Beijing, China Win

Liu Jin Wen Submission (guillotine choke) Ultimate Martial Arts Combat

Beijing, China Win

Makhach Gadzhiev TKO (submission to punches) AOW 8: Worlds Collide

Beijing, China