Former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno returns to his home country for a main event bout against short-notice replacement Lone'er Kavanagh at UFC Fight Night on February 28, 2026, in Mexico City. The five-round flyweight clash headlines a card featuring multiple Mexican fighters at Arena CDMX. Moreno aims to rebound from a recent loss while Kavanagh seeks a career-defining victory.
UFC Fight Night takes place on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico, with the main card starting at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount+. The event marks the promotion's return to the city, where high elevation has historically influenced performances. Brandon Moreno, the first Mexican-born UFC champion and a two-time flyweight titleholder with a record of 23-8-2, headlines against Lone'er Kavanagh (9-1). Moreno, ranked No. 6 in the division, is coming off a technical knockout loss to Tatsuro Taira in December 2025, marking his third defeat in five fights. All four of his recent bouts went to decisions except the Taira finish.
Kavanagh, an unranked Englishman, steps in on three weeks' notice after Asu Almabayev withdrew due to injury. This is Kavanagh's fourth UFC fight, following a knockout loss to Charles Johnson in August 2025; he is 2-1 in the promotion. The bout is Kavanagh's first main event, first five-round fight, and first against a former champion. Betting odds list Moreno as a -218 to -245 favorite, with Kavanagh at +170 to +186.
Moreno spoke about the timing amid national unrest following the death of cartel leader Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho.' 'It has been really hard hours for my Mexican people,' Moreno told CBS Sports. 'It's weird, man. It's crazy because, right now, I'm super focused on my fight, but, at the same time, I know that a lot of Mexican people are focused on this bad moment. Maybe [the UFC Fight Night event] can be a nice moment for the people to try to forget the bad moment and get some joy.'
Kavanagh expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity. 'I want to look back on my life and see that I've done some cool stuff,' he said. 'The big thing for me is legacy, and this is a legendary moment, so I'm looking forward to it. It just brings me one step closer to the title, and that's what I want.'
The co-main event pits bantamweight Marlon Vera (23-11-1) against David Martinez (13-1), with Vera on a three-fight skid and Martinez riding nine straight wins. Other main card bouts include Daniel Zellhuber vs. King Green (lightweight), Edgar Chairez vs. Felipe Bunes (flyweight), Imanol Rodriguez vs. Kevin Borjas (flyweight), and Santiago Luna vs. Angel Pacheco (bantamweight). The card emphasizes Mexican talent, with each main event fight featuring a local fighter.
