Xiao Long Aims for Breakthrough at UFC 326 LAS VEGAS – Xiao Long is positioning UFC 326 as a pivotal moment in his career, hoping to solidify his status as a top contender in the sport. The 27-year-old fighter, with a professional MMA record of 27-10 and a 1-2 record in the UFC, will face former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt in a featured prelim at T-Mobile Arena. The event, broadcast on Paramount+ and CBS, marks a significant opportunity for Long, who has been working to establish himself in the competitive landscape of mixed martial arts. Long expressed confidence in the matchup, acknowledging the UFC’s faith in his potential. “I think it will be a really, really good matchup for me with my opponent,” he said during a media day interview, translated via a Chinese-language interpreter. “I think the UFC has given a big trust in me.” Despite Garbrandt’s recent struggles following his loss of the bantamweight title, Long sees the fight as a chance to elevate his profile. While Long’s professional record includes 37 fights, he admitted there are discrepancies in his career history. “I think there is some mistake inside of my fight record,” he noted. “There are some fights that are not big professional fights, but it’s still professional experience for me.” He highlighted his growth during his time in the Road to UFC program, where he faced grappling specialists, as valuable preparation. Though he acknowledged his record may not reflect his full potential, he emphasized that the experience has been instrumental in his development. The fight against Garbrandt represents a turning point for Long, who has been striving to prove himself against established names in the sport. His performance at UFC 326 could serve as a defining moment in his journey toward becoming a household name in the MMA world.#cody_garbrandt #xiao_long #ufc_326 #t_mobile_arena #paramount_plus
Cody Garbrandt confirms potential matchup with Sean O'Malley outside UFC LAS VEGAS – Cody Garbrandt and Sean O'Malley are set to face off in a planned matchup outside the UFC, according to Garbrandt’s recent comments at a UFC 326 pre-fight news conference. The former bantamweight champions, who have long been rivals in the sport, revealed discussions are ongoing for their eventual showdown, though it will not take place in mixed martial arts. Garbrandt, who has a record of 14-7 in MMA and 9-7 in the UFC, shared that representatives from the organization RAF have reached out multiple times to arrange the fight. “They were trying to set up a match against Sean O'Malley next month,” Garbrandt told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “So have his team reach out. We're ready to go. We could unscathed on the fight this Saturday, and we go to Philadelphia and strap on the singlets and go to work.” The proposed bout will take place at RAF 8, scheduled for April 18 at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. The event’s current headliner is a rematch between former UFC bantamweight champions Merab Dvalishvili and Henry Cejudo. If Garbrandt and O'Malley join the card, the lineup would feature four former titleholders. Garbrandt praised RAF’s efforts to elevate wrestling, noting the organization’s strong audience engagement and talent lineup. “RAF's done an amazing job,” he said. “The audience of their shows, the talent that they're bringing in, to really catapult wrestling in a great way. Their shows are awesome, if you haven't tuned in or watched. I think you guys all saw Arman (Tsarukyan) last weekend went viral. It's great. For us to stay in activity, a lot of times we can have months, years, in between fights.#cody_garbrandt #sean_o_malley #raf #liacouras_center #merab_dvalishvili
