This December’s UFC 256 has added a promising welterweight clash. One that will see China’s Li Jingliang, a.k.a. “The Leech,” throw down with Contender Series alum Dwight Grant.
MMA Fighting was first to report the booking, which joins a small handful of fights previously revealed for the December 12 card. The event also features Amanda Nunes vs. Megan Anderson, with Nunes defending her 145lb championship.
Jingliang (17-6), with the UFC since 2014, had a three-fight win streak snapped in his last appearance when he lost via unanimous decision against Neil Magny at UFC 248. Prior to that, the 32-year old had strung together wins over Daichi Abe, David Zawada, and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos.
The Chinese welterweight picked up two Performance of the Night bonuses during that win streak.
Grant (10-3) will enter the bout off a knockout loss at the hands of Daniel Rodriguez back in August. However, prior to that, he’d put together a pair of wins, including a Performance of the Night finish of Carlo Pedersoli Jr. last year.
The UFC 256 card is expected to be held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event also features to following match-ups:
Amanda Nunes vs. Megan Anderson – for the UFC women’s featherweight championship
Omari Akhmedov vs. Marvin Vettori
Amanda Ribas vs. Carla Esparza TBD
Li Jingliang vs. Dwight Grant
