Francesco Nuzzi made a memorable UFC debut at UFC Shanghai by stopping Xiao Long in the first round. The Italian bantamweight responded to an aggressive start from Long with a powerful counterattack before forcing the referee to stop the fight. The victory came at 1:00 of Round 1 and immediately gave Nuzzi one of the standout performances of the Shanghai prelims.
Francesco Nuzzi Turns the Fight Around Quickly
Francesco Nuzzi 11-2-0 entered his UFC debut against an experienced Chinese opponent, but Xiao Long started with aggression and looked comfortable in the opening exchanges. Nuzzi stayed composed and waited for his chance to respond rather than rushing into a prolonged exchange.
That opening came quickly. Nuzzi landed a series of left hands that dropped Long before continuing with more strikes on the ground. Herb Dean stepped in at the 1:00 mark of the first round, giving Nuzzi a TKO victory in his promotional debut.
Xiao Long Could Not Recover From the Counterattack
Xiao Long 27-11-0 had the experience advantage and entered the fight with five UFC wins by knockout and nine by submission. He was also competing in front of his home crowd, making the quick stoppage an especially difficult result.
Long initially pushed the pace, but Nuzzi’s response completely changed the fight. Once the Italian landed cleanly, Long could not regain his footing or create enough space to survive the follow-up strikes.
The result gives Long another setback after his unanimous decision loss to Cody Garbrandt in March. He will now need to rebuild after suffering his second straight UFC defeat.
Nuzzi Makes the Most of His UFC Opportunity
Nuzzi’s performance is even more notable because this was his first UFC appearance. He joined the promotion shortly before the Shanghai event and accepted the opportunity against Long on short notice.
The Italian had already built a reputation as a dangerous finisher before reaching the UFC. He entered Shanghai with five knockout wins, three submissions and eight first-round finishes, according to his UFC profile.
He showed those finishing instincts immediately. Instead of allowing the occasion to affect him, Nuzzi stayed patient, found his opening and ended the fight before the first minute was complete.
Nuzzi’s Left Hand Changed Everything
The key moment came when Nuzzi answered Long’s early pressure with a fast combination. His left hand found the target and immediately hurt the Chinese fighter, creating the opportunity for the finishing sequence.
Nuzzi followed the knockdown with more punches rather than allowing Long time to recover. The referee recognized that Long was no longer defending effectively and stopped the contest.
That efficiency is important for Nuzzi’s future. He did not need three rounds to show what he could do, and he did not leave the result in the hands of the judges.
What This Win Means for Nuzzi
Nuzzi now has the kind of UFC debut that can accelerate a fighter’s career. A first-round TKO over an experienced opponent gives him immediate momentum and makes a tougher matchup the logical next step.
The Italian also adds another name to a growing group of emerging fighters worth watching. His performance could put him in the conversation alongside the UFC top prospects of 2026, although he will need more UFC wins before that label carries serious weight.
For now, Nuzzi has achieved the most important goal. He arrived in Shanghai as a newcomer and left with a decisive finish that fans will remember.
Xiao Long Needs to Rebuild
Long now faces a more difficult road inside the UFC bantamweight division. The loss to Nuzzi followed his decision defeat against Cody Garbrandt, leaving him without a win in his last two appearances.
The positive is that Long still has significant UFC experience and has shown that he can compete effectively over three rounds. His nine submission wins and five knockout victories also show that he remains capable of finishing fights when he finds his rhythm.
A return against another experienced bantamweight could give Long the chance to regain momentum. The next matchup will be important because another defeat would make his position on the UFC roster increasingly uncertain.
Another Big Highlight From UFC Shanghai
Nuzzi’s victory added another finish to an event that had already produced several memorable moments. Julia Polastri stopped Xiong Jingnan with a first-round head kick, while Rei Tsuruya submitted Kevin Borjas in the opening round.
The UFC Shanghai results provide the wider picture of an event that featured several finishes before the main card began.
Nuzzi’s performance stands out for a different reason. He was making his UFC debut against a fighter with 38 professional bouts, yet he needed only 60 seconds to make the difference clear.
What Comes Next for Francesco Nuzzi?
The next challenge should give Nuzzi a stronger test. His debut has shown that his finishing ability can translate to the UFC, but the promotion will now want to see how he performs against an opponent who can survive his early pressure.
A longer fight would also reveal more about Nuzzi’s conditioning, defensive skills and ability to adjust when his first finishing opportunity does not appear.
For now, though, there is no reason to rush him into the rankings. Another step-up fight would allow Nuzzi to build on the Shanghai performance while giving the UFC a better understanding of his ceiling.
Final Thoughts
Francesco Nuzzi vs Xiao Long ended with a statement first-round TKO that gave the Italian the perfect start to his UFC career. Nuzzi absorbed the early pressure, found his opening with a powerful left-hand combination and finished the fight before Long could recover.
For Long, the result creates another rebuilding period after consecutive UFC losses. Nuzzi, meanwhile, leaves Shanghai with an unbeaten-looking momentum boost and one of the quickest finishes on the card. His next fight will provide a tougher test, but after a debut like this, the UFC has every reason to keep a close eye on his development.
