Li Jingliang signs with Ali Abdelaziz's Dominance MMA
No.15-ranked welterweight Li Jingliang has joined Ali Abdelaziz's management company, Dominance MMA.
'The Leech' was previously managed by Tim Simpson, who first worked as an MMA agent, then director of MMA management and eventually as the senior vice president for MMA at Paradigm Sports.
Tim Simpson manages fighters like Leon Edwards and Jiří Procházka, while Ali Abdelaziz boasts stars like Islam Makhachev, Justin Gaethje and Kamaru Usman on his roster.
Li Jingliang has signed with Dominance MMA https://t.co/GI2m0dkqGI
Li Jingliang is the latest fighter to join the Dominance MMA roster and will look to improve on the inconsistent form that has left him 3-2 across his last five fights.
Ali Abdelaziz managed a handful of champions in 2021, including Kamaru Usman and Rose Namajunas. However, the only reigning titleholder under his management is Islam Makhachev, the UFC lightweight champion.
Li Jingliang last fought at UFC 279 against Daniel Rodriguez, whom he lost to via unanimous decision. The decision was slightly controversial as many thought that Jingliang had done enough to secure the victory.
'The Leech' spent his time preparing for Tony Ferguson, but a last-minute change resulted in Jingliang facing Rodriguez in a 180-pound catchweight bout. With that, Jingliang's opponent out-weighed him by 10 pounds.
A closer look at Li Jingliang's MMA record
Li Jingliang is one of the best fighters in the UFC to come out of China, alongside strawweight champion Zhang Weili and bantamweight Song Yadong. The No.15-ranked welterweight made his promotional debut in 2014 against David Michaud at UFC 173.
He lost his very next fight against Nordin Taleb at UFC Fight Night 54 via split decision. Jingliang has never been knocked out in his professional career, with most of his losses coming via decision or submission. In the UFC, he has four losses by decision and two by submission.
Jingliang's defeats have come against stiff competition, with 'The Leech' suffering setbacks against Jake Matthews, Neil Magny and Khamzat Chimaev. His first submission loss in the UFC came via a standing rear-naked choke against Keita Nakamura at UFC Fight Night 75.
Jingliang's other submission loss came in the first round against Khamzat Chimaev, who put 'The Leech' to sleep with a rear-naked choke at UFC 267.
'The Leech' is primarily a striker with 10 knockout wins in his professional career. He is also a competent grappler with four submission victories. He secured notable knockout wins over Dhiego Lima, Santiago Ponzinibbio and Muslim Salikhov.
Li Jingliang has a UFC record of 11-6 and an overall MMA record of 19-8.