Cody Garbrandt defeated Long Xiao by unanimous decision in a UFC 326 preliminary bout marked by multiple fouls. Xiao lost two points for low blows in the third round, one of which caused Garbrandt to vomit in the octagon. The victory halts Garbrandt's two-fight losing streak.
The featured preliminary fight at UFC 326 took place on March 7, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cody Garbrandt faced Long Xiao in a bantamweight matchup that unfolded over three rounds.
In the first round, both fighters had notable moments. Xiao landed a solid head kick that dazed Garbrandt, while Garbrandt connected with strategic shots. The second round saw Xiao controlling the action.
The third round became the focal point due to repeated fouls by Xiao. Early in the round, Xiao delivered a knee to Garbrandt's groin, causing severe discomfort that led Garbrandt to vomit in the octagon. Referee Herb Dean deducted one point from Xiao. Despite the incident, the fight continued under Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, though some observers noted it should have been stopped.
Moments later, Xiao landed another low blow, prompting a second point deduction. Garbrandt recovered and avoided further damage, running out the clock to reach the judges' scorecards. All three judges scored the bout in Garbrandt's favor, securing him the unanimous decision.
Garbrandt, a former UFC bantamweight champion, rebounded from consecutive losses to Deiveson Figueiredo and Raoni Barcelos. For Xiao, the defeat marks his third loss in the last four fights.
Fighters reacted on social media to the bizarre contest. UFC veteran Tim Elliott tweeted, “One point for each testicle,” highlighting the unusual point deductions. The win was described by observers as one of the strangest in recent UFC history.
