Cody Garbrandt says fighting saved his life as he readies for UFC 326 return
cody garbrandt, a former UFC bantamweight champion, says he has finally found peace amid a turbulent personal and professional life and will carry that mindset into his return at UFC 326. The declaration comes as he attempts to halt a difficult stretch that has seen him win just 3 of his last 10 fights.
Cody Garbrandt's path to peace
At 34, Garbrandt traced the source of his resilience to an upbringing he described as chaotic and sometimes violent, where family members struggled with prison and addiction. He credits competitive sports—particularly wrestling, where he was an Ohio state champion—and later MMA with offering an escape and a purpose. That purpose, he said at UFC 326 media day, is what saved him and now provides a rare calm: when he steps into the octagon he feels at home and free from the turmoil that once defined him.
Garbrandt’s career peak came when he captured a UFC title in 2016, but the high point was followed by setbacks. He lost the belt 11 months after winning it and has compiled a 14-7 professional MMA ledger, with a 9-7 mark in UFC competition. Over his last 10 fights he has gone 3-7, a run that includes a two-fight losing skid heading into the Las Vegas card.
The fighter outlined how becoming champion altered his environment and behavior: sudden status brought new people into his circle, and he acknowledged those shifts played a role in a downturn both inside and outside the cage. The practical change that helped him regain stability has been family life—he noted the grounding effect of fatherhood, citing a son who is about to turn eight and a daughter two months old—which has allowed him to focus on daily routines and training instead of searching for chaos.
What makes this notable is the simple causal chain Garbrandt described: early-life instability made chaos feel normal, championship success introduced destructive influences, and a settled family life has now enabled a clearer focus on performance. The effect, he said, is less mental noise and a renewed drive to convert that peace into results at UFC 326.
Xiao Long's opportunity at T-Mobile Arena
Garbrandt meets Xiao Long on the card’s featured prelim at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, a slot that will be broadcast on Paramount+ and CBS. Long, listed at 27-10 in MMA competition with a 1-2 UFC record, called the matchup a chance to announce himself to a wider audience and said he felt the promotion had placed significant trust in him by pairing him with a recognizable former champion.
Long also addressed questions about his professional record, which is presented elsewhere as 37 fights; he conceded there are inaccuracies and that some bouts may not meet a strict definition of high-level professional competition. He noted, however, that recent experience in the Road to UFC pathway and a bout with a grappler over the past two years had provided meaningful preparation for this step up in opposition.
The matchup presents a clear cause-and-effect scenario for both men: for Garbrandt, finding personal stability is intended to translate into better in-cage focus and a return to winning form; for Long, the exposure of facing a well-known opponent is an opportunity to elevate his profile and validate the UFC’s decision to feature him on the Las Vegas card. Both outcomes hinge on how each fighter executes on fight night.
Fight night is set for Saturday, and the card’s platform and venue place the bout in front of a national television audience and the UFC’s streaming subscribers, increasing the stakes for two competitors at different points in their careers.
