Cody Garbrandt vs Xiao Long — Fight recap

Cody Garbrandt defeated Xiao Long via unanimous decision after three rounds on March 7, 2026, with referee Herb Dean officiating. Despite being outstruck 59-to-28 in significant strikes, Garbrandt's superior accuracy proved decisive—landing 51% of his striking attempts compared to Long's 54%—while controlling the striking exchanges with crisp combinations.

Long attempted two takedowns, converting one, but neither fighter accumulated meaningful control time, with Garbrandt holding 53 seconds to Long's 47. The Chinese striker's volume came largely from leg kicks, landing 29 of 39 attempts, yet Garbrandt's precision striking, particularly his perfect 11-of-11 body work, resonated more with the judges across all three rounds.

The decision underscores how striking efficiency and placement can overcome raw output in close bantamweight contests.