Laprise To Fight At UFC Toronto

Chatham’s Chad Laprise will make his UFC welterweight division debut against Li Jingliang at UFC 206 in Toronto December 10.

Laprise, who is moving up a weight class, is coming off a win in August, when he defeated Thibault Gouti on a first round TKO on punches.

The 30-year-old Canadian moved back to London, Ont., earlier this year, after some time in Montreal, and is thrilled to be fighting close to home.

“It’s awesome. I was bugging [UFC matchmaker] Joe Silva about getting on this card,” Laprise said in a Sportsnet interview. “I’m fighting two hours away from home. So to be able to fight [in Toronto] is going to be amazing.”

His opponent, Li Jingliang is 11-4 in his career, and 3-2 at the UFC level, compared to Laprise’s 11-2 pro record and 3-2 UFC record.

Jingliang knocked out his most recent opponent, Anton Zafir in July.

Laprise is a former winner of the UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter reality show.

UFC 206 will take place December 10 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.