Cody Garbrandt vs. Xiao Long headlines the UFC 326 prelim fights in the bantamweight division on Saturday night, live on Paramount+. Former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt will look to get himself back on track against Chinese prospect Xiao Long, who is 1-2 in the UFC.
As the final fight before the UFC 326 main card, the Garbrandt vs. Long is expected to start around 8:35 p.m. ET, live from Las Vegas.
We'll look at the paths for both Garbrandt and Long to win this featured prelim bout. Will the rising Chinese standout be ready to handle “No Love’s” power and speed, or will it be too much in the biggest fight of Xiao Long's career at UFC 326?
Find our Garbrandt vs. Long prediction and UFC 326 expert pick for Saturday's final prelim fight below, including PrizePicks UFC picks and key stats for Saturday, March 7.
You can predict UFC fight winners on PrizePicks Team Picks and earn money if you're right, including on Garbrandt vs. Long, now available in 35 states.
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Cody Garbrandt vs. Xaio Long Prediction for UFC 326 Prelim
Cody Garbrandt arrives at UFC 326 as a former bantamweight champion, boasting a resume that consists of the who’s who of the division. "No Love," however, has hit a rough patch, losing in back-to-back fights entering this weekend.
Since losing the bantamweight belt in 2018, Garbrandt is just 3-5 in his last eight fights, and 2-4 in his last six.
Even with those losses, Garbrandt still has the ability to dictate striking in the octagon, keeping his opponents guessing, making him difficult to handle. Look for the veteran to lean on his speed and extensive experience to command respect early.
Xiao Long enters as an intriguing prospect from Shanghai, chasing the biggest opportunity of his career in Las Vegas. The Chinese standout utilizes relentless volume and opportunistic grappling, bringing an aggressive style forged in the Road to UFC tournament.
However, Long faces a monumental test against his most dangerous opponent to date. If he can weather Garbrandt's initial storm, establish his rhythm, and avoid massive power shots, he could secure a statement win this weekend.
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Cody Garbrandt vs. Xaio Long Payouts for UFC 326
Cody Garbrandt enters this prelim fight as the underdog, returning a 2.17x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if he wins.
Xaio Long enters this fight as the favorite with a 1.63x payout if he wins, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
The most likely Garbrandt vs. Long method of victory is a decision, followed by Garbrandt KO/TKO/DQ, with the fight most likely to go the distance.
Fight Winner Payout: Cody Garbrandt 2.17x ($100 pays out $217) | Xaio Long 1.63x
Garbrandt vs. Long Method of Victory Payouts: Long by Decision (2.56x Yes), Garbandt by Decision (3.33x Yes), Garbandt by KO/TKO/DQ (3.84x Yes)
Garbrandt vs. Long To Go the Distance? Payouts: Yes – 1.61x | No – 2.08x
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Team Picks payouts are live at the time of writing and is subject to change.
Garbrandt vs. Long Start Time, How to Watch UFC 326
Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026
Time: Prelim Card – 5 p.m. ET | Garbrandt vs. Long Start Time – 8:30 p.m. ET (estimate)
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
TV: Paramount+
Cody Garbrandt vs. Xaio Long Prediction for UFC 326
Here are some UFC stats to help you make your Cody Garbrandt vs. Xaio Long prediction in this prelim fight at UFC 326 on Paramount+.
- Garbrandt’s elite takedown defense (83% career) should force this fight to play out on the feet, neutralizing Xiao's opportunistic grappling and submission threats.
- "No Love" brings undeniable championship-level experience and fight-ending power into the Octagon, with 11 of his 14 professional victories coming by way of knockout.
- Long enters the matchup with a clear output advantage, landing an aggressive 5.25 significant strikes per minute compared to the former champion's 2.88.
- The 27-year-old Chinese standout will enjoy a massive five-inch reach advantage (70" to 65") and is nearly seven years younger than Garbrandt, making outside range management his clearest path to victory.
- To secure a win, Garbrandt must bite down on his mouthpiece, close the distance, and land devastating counter-strikes in the pocket.
- Meanwhile, Long needs to fight long, pump his jab, and test the veteran's chin and cardio over 15 minutes, where Long should have an advantage.
UFC 326: Gabrandt vs. Long – Tale of the Tape
Here are the key stats to know for Gabrandt vs. Long in the UFC 326 prelim fight.
Cody Garbrandt Stats for UFC 326
Overall Record: 14-7-0
UFC Record: 9-7-0
Last 5 Fights: 2-3-0
Height: 5’8”
Reach: 65”
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 2.88
Takedowns Landed Per 15 Minutes: 0.93
Last Fight: Loss vs. Raoni Barcelos by Decision
Finishes: 11 (11 KO/TKO)
Xaio Long Stats for UFC 326
Overall Record: 27-10-0
UFC Record: 1-2-0
Last 5 Fights: 3-2-0
Height: 5’8”
Reach: 70”
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 5.25
Takedowns Landed Per 15 Minutes: 0.69
Last Fight: Loss vs. SuYoung You by Decision
Finishes: 14 (5 KO/TKO/9 SUB)
Garbrandt vs. Long Pick for UFC 326
Here is our Garbrandt vs. Long pick for UFC 326 on PrizePicks to help you build your UFC Lineup. Picks are available via PrizePicks MMA board.
Xiao Long – 55.5 Significant Strikes
- Xiao Long lands 5.25 significant strikes per minute across his UFC career with an average fight time of 14:25.
- The Chinese prospect has landed 223 significant strikes (74.3 average) in his last three UFC fights.
- Long has competed in three consecutive high-paced fights, with two going the distance against SuYoung You and ChangHo Lee, landing 68 significant strikes in both.
- Against Cody Garbrandt's patient counter-striking style, Xiao's relentless forward pressure and massive five-inch reach advantage — allowing him to dictate the striking pace from the outside — could prove beneficial if this fight goes the full 15 minutes.
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Make Your Garbrandt vs. Long Pick for UFC 326 on PrizePicks
This prelim fight puts together two slumping bantamweights, former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt vs. Xiao Long, looking to get back on track on Saturday night.
The UFC 326 prelim bout, Garbrandt vs. Long, will be broadcast on Paramount+, live from T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, this Saturday, March 7.
You can win real money by locking in your UFC 326 predictions on PrizePicks — from the first fight of the night all the way to the BMF title fight. Pick your fighters, and win cash if you're right. You can also predict winners in every UFC fight on PrizePicks Team Picks, now available in 30 states.
Keep it locked in here with PrizePicks and the Playbook for continued UFC picks, predictions, and news.
