Bruce Lee-inspired UFC fighter Li Jingliang: 5 facts about the Chinese MMA welterweight worth US$25 million and nicknamed ‘The Leech’
Xinjiang-born Li Jingliang may not have wanted to take wrestling seriously at first, but his dedication has paid off – he’s now worth a cool US$25 million, and cites Hong Kong’s martial arts legend Bruce Lee among his influences
The life of Li Jingliang could have turned out very differently. As a young man growing up in a small village in China’s remote western Xinjiang province, he jokes that he “would have become a farmer” if it weren’t for his parents. That’s right, had they not listened to a coach from a local amateur sports academy who had a keen eye for talent and spotted Li’s superior wrestling skills, the 32-year-old would not be where he is today. But throughout his professional career, Li has proven that he is a tough and dedicated fighter – and one of the most refreshingly humble too.
From modest village boy to top mixed martial arts (MMA) athlete, Li’s life has just got better and better. Here are five things to know about him.
A friend’s random outburst created his nickname
Li is known to be “The Leech”, but what is the origin behind his nickname? During one of his matches, Li was attacking his opponent with a guillotine choke. He grasped the man’s neck bit by bit as if he were a leech sucking out the blood. In that moment, Li’s friend shouted “the leech!” and from that day on, the name stuck.
Li wasn’t that interested in taking wrestling more seriously as a youngster
Hailing from a rural village in western Xinjiang province, a coach saw Li’s talent for wrestling and asked him to drop by the local sports academy. Initially, he wasn’t particularly keen, but his parents insisted he give it a try. By the time he was 16, Li was doing so well that he had begun to practice freestyle wrestling and started to train under the famous Bao Li Gao – a national Sanda champion. It was under Bao’s tutelage that he entered MMA competitions including the Art of War Fighting Championship and Legend Fighting Championship.
He had to defeat ‘The Jedi’ to get noticed