[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTQHgLHDiRM&w=560&h=315]
Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. After bursting out of the gate with three quick stoppage
wins, hot Ultimate Fighting Championship commodity
Khamzat
Chimaev will be coming back to the Octagon following a lengthy
layoff. According to a report from betting site
Octagon.bet on Friday, and subsequently confirmed by multiple
outlets, the UFC is booking Chimaev (9-0) for October against
Jingliang
Li (18-6). The two welterweights will collide at
UFC 267, which is slated to go down on Oct. 30 at an
undisclosed venue in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This will be
Chimaev’s first appearance since a knockout win in September 2020,
as the Russian out of Sweden contracted COVID-19.
The future was bright for 27-year-old Chimaev, who debuted in the
promotion in July 2020 and went on to rattle off three speedy
victories across 170 and 185 pounds in just over two months. His
next test was to be top-five talent Leon
Edwards at welterweight, but that fell through on three
separate occasions due to COVID-19. First, Edwards came down with
it at the end of 2020, and then the following month, Chimaev fell
victim to it. The effects lingered long enough to eject him from a
subsequent matchup with Edwards, and the organization moved on from
the pairing. As a pro, “Borz” has stopped all nine of his foes
inside the distance.
Li bounced back into the win column in a big way in January,
wrecking the returning Santiago
Ponzinibbio inside of a round with a ferocious left hand to
earn a place in the rankings. The fighter out of China has amassed
a record of 8-2 dating back the last five years, knocking out the
likes of Elizeu
Zaleski dos Santos, Zak Ottow and
the aforementioned Ponzinibbio on the way up. His lone setbacks in
the span came by decision against Jake
Matthews and Neil
Magny.
UFC 267 is expected to be held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates,
possibly at the Etihad Arena. The event is currently bolstered by a
light heavyweight championship affair pitting Jan
Blachowicz against Glover
Teixeira. Another key matchup on the Oct. 30 card sees Amanda
Ribas face off against Virna
Jandiroba in the strawweight division.
