Li Jingliang is no stranger to a big upset.
Jingliang (17-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) is coming off a first-round “Performance of the Night” knockout of Santiago Ponzinibbio in January, which snapped the Argentine’s seven-fight winning streak.
He will take on another highly touted fighter in Khamzat Chimaev (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) at UFC 267 and while Jingliang thinks the hype surrounding Chimaev is warranted, he plans on playing spoiler once again.
“I think for me, it’s OK because he paid his effort,” Jingliang told MMA Junkie through an interpreter on Chimaev’s hype. “He gained his hype because he paid his effort. Now everyone loves the internet, so it’s nothing much. He paid his effort, and I respect that.”
He continued, “I’m used to this, being an underdog, so believe in your team, believe in your family, believe in your friends and have faith in yourself. At the end, only the fist does the talking. Other people’s opinions don’t matter.”
Jingliang doesn’t agree with the striker vs. grappler notion surrounding the matchup. With seven of his past nine wins coming by knockout and Chimaev boasting a 100 percent finish rate, he doubts the judges will be involved in their fight.
“This is MMA,” Jingliang said. “It’s not one thing vs. another thing. People who’ve seen me striking just haven’t seen me doing grappling before, and I cannot wait to show you.”
He continued, “I don’t think the fight will go to a decision. I believe we leave with a win. I have everything.”
Li Jingliang relishes underdog role vs. Khamzat Chimaev, says UFC 267 fight won’t go distance