Jingliang
Li has been forced to withdraw from UFC 287
after suffering a back injury.
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“The Leech” initially announced the news on Chinese social media
platform
Douyin, and it was subsequently confirmed by
MMAjunkie.com. Li was supposed to face Michael
Chiesa in a welterweight bout on the April 8 card in Miami. It
is currently unclear if Chiesa will remain on the card against a
replacement opponent.
Li fought twice in 2022, earning a second-round technical knockout
victory against Muslim
Salikhov at UFC on ABC 3 before dropping a split decision to
Daniel
Rodriguez in his most recent appearance at UFC 279 this past
September. “The Leech” is 11-6 over the course of a promotional
tenure that began in 2014.
Chiesa didn’t compete at all last year after ending his 2021
campaign with consecutive losses to Vicente
Luque and Sean Brady.
“The Ultimate Fighter 15” winner is 11-6 in the Octagon since
joining the UFC in 2012.
UFC 287 takes place at Miami Dade Arena in Miami, Fla., and is
headlined by a middleweight title rematch between Alex
Pereira and Israel
Adesanya.