Italy’s Francesco Nuzzi is China-bound, as he’s joining the UFC Shanghai card later this month for a short-notice scrap.
Nuzzi (11-2, 2NC) is set to face Xiao Long (27-11) in a bantamweight pairing at the event, set for the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center on August 29, 2026.
Iridium Sports Agency, who represent Nuzzi, announced the booking on Wednesday. Nuzzi also confirmed the news on social media.
“Berserker,” as Nuzzi is known, is coming off a No Contest under the Cage Warriors banner that saw him unable to continue due to a low blow. A PFL veteran who went 1-1, 1NC through three fights in that organization, Nuzzi bounced back from a loss in the 2025 PFL World Tournament by finishing Lucas Rodrigues at Cage Warriors 195 last October.
Long has dropped his last two bouts, both under the UFC banner. Most recently, Cody Garbrandt went the distance with the Chinese fighter, with the ex-UFC bantamweight champ claiming a decision win.
Overall, Xiao Long is 1-2 in three fights inside the octagon. He did not have a fight previously announced for the Shanghai card, making this a short-notice fight for both men.
UFC Shanghai is headlined by Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong in a key bantamweight clash. The following match-ups have been reported for the card:
- Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Song Yadong
- Yan Xiaonan vs. Denise Gomes
- Aori Qileng vs. Kai Asakura
- Su Mudaerji vs. Alex Perez
- Liu Ce vs. Junior Tafa
- Bilal Hasan vs. Nilson Rojas
- Namsrai Batbayar vs. André Lima
- Jack Jenkins vs. Sean Woodson
- Rei Tsuruya vs. Kevin Borjas
- Xiong Jingnan vs. Julia Polastri
- Francesco Nuzzi vs. Xiao Long
