Former lightweight Tony Ferguson will face Li Jingliang at UFC 279 on September 10. Photo: David G. McIntyre – USA TODAY Sports
Former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson will move up to welterweight to face the tough Li Jingliang at UFC 279 on September 10. Dana White broke the news at the UFC 278 post-fight conference.
“Oh, he didn’t say who he’s fighting?” White told the press. “We’ll let you know soon. Ah, it’s done. It’s ‘Leech.”
Ferguson has four-straight losses, all coming against top ranked lightweight opponents. In his last bout he faced Michael Chandler at UFC 274, and was knocked out by a vicious front kick in the second round. Before that, he lost to Beneil Dariush, Charles “do Bronx” Oliveira and Justin Gaethje.
Jingliang is 2-1 in his most recent fights with wins over Muslim Salikhov and Santiago Ponzinibbio, as well as a loss to Khamzat Chimaev who will headline the UFC 279 event.