Xiao Long

He says Xiao Long wins very easily with a grappling-focused gameplan, slightly walks that back to 'quite confidently,' and still expects a win even if the fight stays standing.

Xiao Long is rated a composed, forward-pressure striker who picks his moments, stays calm in exchanges, works an active jab and occasional combinations, and kicks well off his lead leg. The analyst spends real time explaining his own grading philosophy here, noting Xiao Long does many small things well without any one of them being elite, but rates the overall package as clearly good. His biggest advantage is called out as wrestling: good takedowns and an excellent ability to catch kicks, which the analyst expects to set the pace and win the fight comfortably, or at worst win a more competitive standing fight.

calls it a 50-50 fight himself

A grizzled veteran being tested against a bigger name, Xiao is a good, durable striker who stays calm in the pocket, presses forward, picks his shots and leans on an active jab and a favorite combination; he lacks Garbrandt's pure boxing polish but is competitive on the feet. On the mat he is good enough, with good takedowns, a liking for catching kicks, and scrambles, and he is a fast starter who sustains his pace for all three rounds.

A real mechanism is offered (mat control for most of the fight), but he immediately disclaims his own read as a toss-up he isn't sure about.

A good, patient striker -- calm in the pocket, picks his shots, active jab, a solid 2-3 combo, and good durability -- who the analyst expects to look very good if the fight stays standing. He can also mix in grappling (good takedowns, likes catching kicks into takedowns, good scrambles), but the analyst explicitly does not think that is his best path here, preferring he keep it standing. He is also described as a fast starter who can sustain a very high pace for three rounds, with the analyst genuinely unsure whether the opponent can match it. As of 2025-08-18.

He states a slight lean toward Xiao Long on wrestling but immediately repeats that it is a close fight that 'could go either way' and 'either direction,' doubling down on outcome doubt rather than committing.

A good striker who stays calm in the pocket and picks his shots, leaning on his durability to stay in range. His wrestling -- takedowns and scrambling -- is graded good, and the analyst sees it as a shade better than his opponent's, which is the stated tie-breaker in a fight he calls close either way.

Primarily a wrestler who is also comfortable striking, and the analyst calls him the more dangerous of the two on the feet in terms of power. He stays calm in the pocket and lands with good volume, and mixes in good takedowns and scrambling once the fight hits the mat.