Early career Li made his professional debut in 2007, winning via submission due to punches in the second round. He would go on to compile a record of 8–2, capturing the
Legend FC Welterweight Championship in the process, before being granted his release and signed by the
UFC.
Ultimate Fighting Championship Li made his promotional debut on May 24, 2014, at
UFC 173 against
David Michaud, who had an undefeated record of 7–0. Li defeated Michaud via split decision, giving Michaud the first loss of his career. Li faced
Nordine Taleb on October 4, 2014, at
UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Saffiedine. Li was able to take Taleb down multiple times throughout the fight and even successfully land significantly more strikes as Taleb was content to counter strike throughout the bout. In a surprising result, Taleb was given the victory by split decision. Li was expected to face Roger Zapata on May 16, 2015, at
UFC Fight Night 66. However, on April 18, it was announced that Zapata was pulled from the fight due to undisclosed reasons and replaced by Brazilian fighter
Dhiego Lima. Li won the fight via knockout in the first round. Li was expected to face
Kiichi Kunimoto on September 27, 2015, at
UFC Fight Night 75. However, Kunimoto pulled out of the fight in late August citing injury and was replaced by returning Japanese veteran
Keita Nakamura. After dominating the first two rounds, Li lost the fight via technical submission in the third round. Li faced Anton Zafir on July 8, 2016, at
The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale. Li defeated Zafir via knockout in the first round. Li was expected to face
Chad Laprise on December 10, 2016, at
UFC 206. However, Laprise pulled out of the fight on November 16 citing an undisclosed injury. As a result, Li was pulled from the card entirely and rescheduled to a future event. Li was expected to face
Yancy Medeiros on January 28, 2017, at
UFC on Fox 23. However, in early January, Medeiros pulled out for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by
Bobby Nash. Li defeated Nash via knockout in the second round. Li faced
Frank Camacho on June 17, 2017, at
UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Correia. He won the fight via unanimous decision. This win earned Li his second
Fight of the Night bonus award. Li faced
Zak Ottow on November 25, 2017, at
UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum. He won the fight via TKO in the first round. The win also earned Li his first
Performance of the Night bonus award. Li faced
Jake Matthews on February 11, 2018, at
UFC 221. He lost the fight via unanimous decision and received criticism for his eye gouge of Matthews. This fight earned him the
Fight of the Night bonus. Li faced
Daichi Abe on June 23, 2018, at
UFC Fight Night 132. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Li was scheduled to face
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos on November 24, 2018, at
UFC Fight Night 141. However, on October 27, 2018, it was reported that Zaleski withdrew from the bout due to a partial ligament tear in his right knee, and he is replaced by
David Zawada. He won the fight via technical knockout in round three. Li was expected to face
Alex Oliveira on April 27, 2019, at
UFC on ESPN 3. However, on March 24, 2019, it was report Li pulled from the bout, citing injury. Li was expected to be in a pairing with
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos that was rescheduled and took place on August 31, 2019, at
UFC Fight Night 157. Li won the fight via technical knockout in round three. The win earned Li his third
Performance of the Night bonus award. Li faced
Neil Magny on March 7, 2020, at
UFC 248. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Li was scheduled to face
Dwight Grant on December 12, 2020, at
UFC 256. However, on December 8, 2020, Grant tested positive for
COVID-19 during fight week and had to pull out. A replacement opponent for Li wasn't able to be found, and therefore Li was removed from the event. Li faced
Santiago Ponzinibbio, replacing
Muslim Salikhov, on January 16, 2021, at
UFC on ABC 1. He won the fight via first-round knockout. This win earned him the
Performance of the Night award. Li faced
Khamzat Chimaev on October 30, 2021, at
UFC 267. He lost the bout after getting choked unconscious via rear-naked choke in the first round. Li faced
Muslim Salikhov on July 16, 2022, at
UFC on ABC 3. He won the fight via TKO in the second round. This win earned him
Performance of the Night bonus award. Li was scheduled to face
Tony Ferguson on September 10, 2022, at
UFC 279. However, due to Khamzat Chimaev missing weight, Li faced
Daniel Rodriguez who was originally scheduled to face
Kevin Holland in a catchweight bout. He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision. 21 out of 23 media scores gave it to Li. Li was scheduled to face
Michael Chiesa on April 8, 2023, at
UFC 287. However, Li pulled out of the bout due to a spine injury. Li faced
Carlos Prates on August 17, 2024 at
UFC 305. He lost the fight by knockout in the second round, which was the first knockout loss in his career. ==Personal life==