LAS VEGAS – Xiao Long hopes UFC 326 can be a coming out party.
Long (27-10 MMA, 1-2 UFC) takes on former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt (14-7 MMA, 9-7 UFC) on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paramount+, CBS).
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“I think it’s going to be a very, very good match for me and my opponent,” Long said through a Chinese interpreter at Wednesday’s media day. “I think the UFC has put a lot of trust in me.”
Even though Garbrandt has struggled since losing his bantamweight title, Long knows fighting a name like that is a huge opportunity for him.
“I’m not going to miss this opportunity,” Long said. “Of course I know he is very popular and well-known in this division, but I will not miss this opportunity and I will let everyone know me.”
Long’s professional MMA record stands at 37 fights, making him on paper more experienced than Garbrandt. However, the 27-year-old admitted there were some inaccuracies in his records.
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“I think there were some mistakes in my fight record,” Long said. “Some of the fights were not big professional fights, but it was still a professional experience for me. Of course, the last two years when I went to the UFC and fought fighters, it was also a very good experience for me. I think, it’s really not a big professional record, but it was still a good experience for me.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Xiao Long won’t miss the chance to let everyone know who he is at UFC 326
