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USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Mike Bohn

Li Jingliang defends UFC 279 booking vs. Tony Ferguson after brutal KO: ‘You forget who he is’

Tony Ferguson Li Jingliang UFC UFC 279 Michael Chandler MMA Junkie

Li Jingliang believes people need to put more respect on Tony Ferguson’s name ahead of their UFC 279 co-main event.

Jingliang (19-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC) vs. Ferguson (25-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) was a surprising announcement for the Sept. 10 pay-per-view card, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

With Ferguson less than four months removed from a devastating front-kick knockout loss to Michael Chandler, the idea of “El Cucuy” moving up to welterweight for the first time since 2011 to face a heavy hitter – all while on a four-fight losing skid – seemed worrisome.

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