Li Jingliang is unafraid of top MMA prospect Khamzat Chimaev, and said he'll 'drink some blood' at UFC 267

• UFC 267 takes place Saturday at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
• Weird, cannibalistic threats have been a consistent theme in the build-up to the MMA extravaganza.

ABU DHABI - Weird, cannibalistic threats have been a consistent theme in the build-up to Saturday's UFC 267 event which takes place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

One of the key bouts on the 15-fight card pits Khamzat Chimaev, MMA's super prospect - who returns to the Octagon after a severe case of the coronavirus - against Li Jingliang, his toughest opponent to date.

Ahead of their welterweight match there has been talk of eating one another, of taking hearts, and drinking blood.

Hours after Chimaev told reporters at a media event Insider attended Wednesday that he would "kill" at the weekend, Jingliang fired back in kind.

Insider asked Jingliang an innocuous question about weaknesses he may have spotted while studying Chimaev, considering how dominant he has been since the UFC signed him, last year.

And though Jingliang told us, "we all have weaknesses," he then descended into an intense and strange answer.

"It's me versus him and we're the same level in the Octagon," Jingliang said. "The fight will be boring if I do not have a good opponent. You have to know your opponent before you defeat him. For me, it's being the best of myself."

Jingliang continued: "He is thirsty, I am also thirsty, and I will drink some blood."

Chimaev is unbeaten in nine pro MMA fights to date, scoring all his wins by finish. He vowed extend that merciless streak against Jingliang.

"My fists do the talking," said Jingliang. "I know his striking is good and his grappling, wrestling is very good. But this is mixed martial arts, anything can happen, and let's find out."

Reacting to the news that Chimaev wanted his heart, Jingliang finished by excitedly remarking: "Fine!"

He finished: "Come on, baby, let's go."

UFC 267 will be broadcast on ESPN+ in the US and BT Sport 2 in the UK.