In a fight that will be remembered more for its agonizing low blows than its technical mastery, former UFC bantamweight champion Cody "No Love" Garbrandt displayed a level of toughness that had fans wincing in sympathy. His unanimous decision victory over Xiao Long at UFC 326 was a testament to his will, but the path to the judges' scorecards was paved with illegal shots that left Garbrandt physically ill and struggling to stand.
A Painful Path to Victory
The bout took a brutal turn in the third round when Long launched a kick that found its mark not on Garbrandt's midsection, but squarely in the groin. The illegal strike was bad enough, but Long repeated the offense, forcing the referee to intervene and give Garbrandt time to recover. The damage, however, was already done. Cameras captured the visceral aftermath, with Garbrandt hunched over a bucket in the center of the octagon, vomiting from the sheer, nauseating pain of the blows.
For the repeated fouls, the referee deducted two crucial points from Xiao Long. Those points proved to be the ultimate decider, as the fight went to the judges with Garbrandt earning a 28-27 score on all three cards for a unanimous decision. The win snapped a two-fight skid for Garbrandt, but the celebration was muted by immediate concerns for his health.
Fans React to the Agony
The shocking scene immediately ignited reactions across social media, where fans split their commentary between awe at Garbrandt's resilience and dark humor about the situation's sheer brutality. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the fine line athletes walk, much like when a scorching Melbourne sun leaves a tennis star with a painful tournament souvenir, proving that suffering comes in many forms in sports.
"Xiao out here trying to make sure No Love will never come from Cody again," one fan quipped on social media, referencing Garbrandt's nickname. Another added, "Cody out here turning the octagon into a personal vomitorium because Xiao decided low blows were his new signature move... Man's balls took more damage than his record since 2018." A third simply noted the universal male empathy, writing, "Cody didn't look great in the fight, but that nut shot was something every man could feel."
The aftermath was just as telling as the in-ring incident. Garbrandt was in such distress that he could not walk out of the arena under his own power, requiring assistance from two personnel to make it backstage. The visual was a powerful testament to the very real, debilitating consequences of such a foul, overshadowing the victory itself.
Beyond the Immediate Pain
While the points deduction secured the win, the bigger question now revolves around potential long-term repercussions for Garbrandt. The former champion has battled through various injuries in his career, but the direct, repeated trauma to such a sensitive area presents a unique and concerning recovery challenge. The win, though hard-earned, could indeed feel bittersweet if the damage lingers.
This kind of physical toll is an unfortunate reality in combat sports, where the line between victory and severe hardship is razor-thin. It echoes the painful realities faced in other sports, such as the news that Kris Bryant's painful reality has the Rockies star sidelined for Opening Day. For now, the MMA community is left applauding Garbrandt's sheer grit while hoping the only lasting effect of Xiao Long's illegal kicks is a mark in the loss column for the fighter who threw them.
