Quick Facts
Biography
Li Jingliang (Chinese: 李景亮; born March 20, 1988) is a Chinese mixed martial artist who competes as a Welterweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2007.
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 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 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 The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale. 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 UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Correia. 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 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.
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.
Championships and accomplishments
- Legend Fighting Championship
- Legend FC Welterweight Championship (One time)
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (Two times)
- Performance of the Night (Three times)
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 22 matches | 17 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 0 |
| By submission | 5 | 1 |
| By decision | 5 | 4 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 17–5 | Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Zhang | August 31, 2019 | 3 | 4:51 | Shenzhen, China | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 16–5 | David Zawada | TKO (kick to the body) | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2 | November 24, 2018 | 3 | 4:07 | Beijing, China | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 15–5 | Daichi Abe | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Edwards | June 23, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Loss | 14–5 | Jake Matthews | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 221 | February 11, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Perth, Australia | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 14–4 | Zak Ottow | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum | November 25, 2017 | 1 | 2:57 | Shanghai, China | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 13–4 | Frank Camacho | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Correia | June 17, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 12–4 | Bobby Nash | KO (punches) | UFC on Fox: Shevchenko vs. Peña | January 28, 2017 | 2 | 4:45 | Denver, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 11–4 | Anton Zafir | KO (punches) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Finale | July 8, 2016 | 1 | 2:46 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 10–4 | Keita Nakamura | Technical Submission (standing rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson | September 27, 2015 | 3 | 2:17 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 10–3 | Dhiego Lima | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber | May 16, 2015 | 1 | 1:25 | Pasay, Philippines | |
| Loss | 9–3 | Nordine Taleb | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Saffiedine | October 4, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | |
| Win | 9–2 | David Michaud | Decision (split) | UFC 173 | May 24, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 8–2 | Luke Jumeau | Submission (guillotine choke) | Legend FC: Legend Fighting Championship 11 | April 27, 2013 | 3 | 3:38 | Hong Kong, SAR, China | Won the Legend FC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–2 | Dan Pauling | Decision (unanimous) | Legend FC: Legend Fighting Championship 9 | June 16, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Hong Kong, SAR, China | |
| Loss | 6–2 | Myung Ho Bae | Decision (unanimous) | Legend FC: Legend Fighting Championship 7 | February 11, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Hong Kong, SAR, China | |
| Win | 6–1 | Alex Niu | Decision (unanimous) | Legend FC: Legend Fighting Championship 5 | July 16, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Hong Kong, SAR, China | |
| Win | 5–1 | Tony Rossini | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | Legend FC: Legend Fighting Championship 4 | January 27, 2011 | 2 | 1:11 | Hong Kong, SAR, China | |
| Win | 4–1 | Andrei Liu | TKO (punches) | Legend FC: Legend Fighting Championship 3 | September 24, 2010 | 1 | 3:43 | Hong Kong, SAR, China | |
| Loss | 3–1 | Pat Crawley | Decision (unanimous) | Legend FC: Legend Fighting Championship 2 | June 24, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Hong Kong, SAR, China | |
| Win | 3–0 | Yun Tao Gong | Submission (guillotine choke) | AOW 15: Ueyama vs. Aohailin | November 28, 2009 | 1 | 5:29 | Beijing, China | |
| Win | 2–0 | Liu Jin Wen | Submission (guillotine choke) | UMAC: Ultimate Martial Arts Combat | April 18, 2009 | 1 | 3:05 | Beijing, China | |
| Win | 1–0 | Makhach Gadzhiev | Submission (punches) | AOW 8: Worlds Collide | September 22, 2007 | 2 | 1:02 | Beijing, China |