Tony Ferguson to Return to Fight LI Jingliang at UFC 279 in Welterweight Division

Tony Ferguson will have the chance to end his four-fight losing streak in September.

UFC President Dana White told reporters Saturday that Ferguson will face Li Jingliang at UFC 279 in Las Vegas on Sept. 10 in a welterweight bout.

Dating back to May 2020, the 38-year-old Ferguson (25-7) has lost to Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, Beneil Dariush and Michael Chandler. That followed a 12-fight winning streak that included beating Kevin Lee in 2017 to win the interim lightweight title.

Ferguson was later stripped of the title because of injury. Only Khabib Nurmagomedov has matched that winning streak in UFC history.

Ferguson and Nurmagomedov had been scheduled to face on several occasions during Ferguson's lengthy win streak, only for the matchups to be canned for various reasons, including complications presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before his recent struggles, Ferguson had been 15-1 in the UFC and emerged as one of the promotion's most popular and respected fighters. He last fought in the welterweight division back in 2011.

The 34-year-old Li (19-7) is 11-5 in the UFC and has alternated between wins and losses in his last five fights. He most recently defeated Muslim Salikhov by TKO in July.

UFC 279 is set to be a major draw, with Nate Diaz and Khamzat Chimaev headlining the event. Johnny Walker is also set to take on Ion Cutelaba, while Irene Aldana will fight Macy Chiasson, among other matchups.+