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Li Jingliang has called out Tony Ferguson to rebook their matchup initially scheduled for September.
‘The Leech’ arguably received the worst outcome of the UFC 279 fight card shuffle. Jingliang was scheduled to fight Ferguson before Khamzat Chimaev drastically missed weight and changed everything.
‘El Cucuy’ was promoted to the main event against Nate Diaz, while Daniel Rodriguez was matched up against Jingliang. ‘The Leech’ was forced to fight at 180 pounds instead of 170 pounds, putting him at a disadvantage against the hard-hitting Rodriguez. After losing by a split decision, the 34-year-old Chinese fighter wants to fight Ferguson next. He had this to say on Twitter:
“Hey Tony @TonyFergusonXT I’m bored now it’s too hot in Florida, let’s party. Me and you have unfinished business let’s dance in March, are you ready? Let’s go Champ @DanaWhite @UFC.”
Jingliang’s momentum was taken away by the disastrous outcome at UFC 279. ‘The Leech’ was looking to capitalize on Ferguson’s declining skills but ultimately lost the opportunity. The UFC might be interested in booking the welterweight showdown unless they have a tougher opponent in mind.
Take a look at Li Jingliang calling out Tony Ferguson below:
Ali Abdelaziz jokingly tells Li Jingliang to leave Tony Ferguson alone
Li Jingliang ended 2022 by signing with a new management team - Ali Abdelaziz and Dominance MMA. Now that Jiangling has joined the powerhouse, Abdelaziz will keep a close eye on his social media to help him grow. When ‘The Leech’ called out Tony Ferguson, the well-known MMA manager responded by saying:
“Leave him alone, he is not ready to fight the Chinese Bruce Lee the real Nan Chuckle King”
It’s unclear what’s next for Ferguson, but Jiangling might not be in those plans. ‘El Cucuy’ suffered his fifth consecutive loss at UFC 279, putting him in a weird spot. With that said, he’s looked competitive enough to deserve another fight. The UFC might give the former interim champion another veteran, similar to Nate Diaz's matchup.
Meanwhile, Jingliang has become a fan favorite but needs to get back on track. The Leech, currently ranked number fifteen, is dangerous and has the potential to go on a run in the welterweight division. If he can stay active, the 34-year-old could quickly climb the rankings in 2023.
