Li Jingliang is out of UFC 287.
Due to a back injury, Jingliang (19-8 MMA, 11-6 UFC) won’t return as expected April 8 vs. Michael Chiesa (16-6 MMA, 11-6 UFC).
Jingliang first announced the news Monday on Chinese social media platform Douyin. A person with knowledge of the situation subsequently confirmed the withdrawal to MMA Junkie. It is unclear at this time if Chiesa will remain on the card.
Jingliang, 35, most recently competed in September when he lost a close and controversial split decision to Daniel Rodriguez at UFC 279. He was originally scheduled to fight Tony Ferguson, but due to Khamzat Chimaev’s weight miss, the lineup was shuffled. The defeat was his second in three fights.
Should he remain on the card against a new opponent, Chiesa will look to snap a two-fight skid that includes losses to Vicente Luque and Sean Brady.
With the change, the UFC 287 lineup now includes:
- Champion Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya – for middleweight title
- Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal
- Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez
- Christian Rodriguez vs. Raul Rosas Jr.
- Kevin Holland vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
- Chris Curtis vs. Kelvin Gastelum
- Michael Chiesa vs. TBA
- Gerald Meerschaert vs. Joseph Pyfer
- Cynthia Calvillo vs. Lupita Godinez
- Luana Pinheiro vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez
- Steve Garcia vs. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke
- Chris Barnett vs. Chase Sherman
- Ignacio Bahamondes vs. TBA
- Jaqueline Amorim vs. Sam Hughes
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 287.