Li Jingliang will finally re-enter the octagon after a long recovery process to face surging welterweight Carlos Prates at UFC 305 on Aug. 17 in Perth, Australia. Multiple people with knowledge of the booking confirmed the news to MMA Fighting after a report from UFC partner Weibo.
Jingliang (19-8) hasn’t fought since September 2022, when he was pulled from a planned match versus Tony Ferguson to face Daniel Rodriguez instead, losing a controversial split decision. The Chinese talent was then slated to fight Michael Chiesa next in April 2023 but suffered a spine injury that kept him out of action since.
Prates (19-6) improved to 2-0 in the UFC with a knockout over Charles Radtke in June, pocketing Performance of the Night bonuses for both first-round finishes wins, and voiced his interest in competing in Perth next for the chance to visit his daughter, who lives in Australia.
What happened to Manel Kape vs Kai ?
Dan Hooker will get a big fight at UFC 305.
Hooker (22-12 MMA, 12-8 UFC) draws top lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot (24-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) on the Aug. 17 card at RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.
Two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed the verbal agreements to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. News of the matchup first emerged when Hooker posted it about it on his personal Instagram story (h/t @realkevink).
Hooker will get his wish of fighting alongside his City Kickboxing teammates Israel Adesanya and Kai Kara-France. “The Hangman” is coming off back-to-back wins – a TKO of Claudio Puelles, followed by a war with Jalin Turner at UFC 290.
Gamrot has won three straight, most recently a unanimous decision over former champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 299 in March. The American Top Team fighter has won seven of his past eight.
With the addition, the UFC 305 lineup includes:
- Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya – for middleweight title
- Steve Erceg vs. Kai Kara-France
- Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan Hooker
- Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Tai Tuivasa
- Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates
- Justin Tafa vs. Valter Walker
- Josh Culibao vs. Ricardo Ramos
- Tereza Bleda vs. Casey O’Neill
- Jack Jenkins vs. Gavin Tucker
- Tom Nolan vs. Alex Reyes
- Jesus Aguilar vs. Stewart Nicoll
