UFC Mexico live blog: Brandon Moreno vs. Lone’er Kavanagh
MMA Fighting
March 1, 2026
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 27: Brandon Moreno (L) and Lone'er Kavanagh (R) face off during the UFC Fight Night official weigh-in, at the Intercontinental hotel, in Mexico City, Mexico on February 27, 2026. (Photo by Daniel Cardenas/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
This is the live blog for Brandon Moreno vs. Lone’er Kavanagh, the flyweight main event for Saturday’s UFC Mexico card at Arena CDMX in Mexico City.
Moreno is No. 7 at 125 pounds in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, while the unranked Kavanagh steps in on short notice as a replacement for an injured Asu Almabayev.
A two-time UFC champion, Moreno (23-9-2) finds himself in unfamiliar territory coming off of the first knockout loss of his career, a result that is part of a 2-3 slump for the Mexican star. Moreno saw a two-fight win streak snapped by Tatsuro Taira at UFC 323 this past December, and looks to jump start his run to a third championship reign by knocking off Kavanagh, a top prospect.
Kavanagh (9-1) also looks to rebound after taking his first loss at the hands of veteran Charles Johnson. The 26-year-old Englishman established himself as one to watch after an impressive first-round knockout of An Tuan Ho in 2024, and won his first two fights before Johnson stopped him. Should Kavanagh pull off the upset tonight, it will cause a major shakeup in the rankings.
Check out the Brandon Moreno vs. Lone’er Kavanagh live blog below.
Preamble
Brandon Moreno is coming home. Was the Tatsuro Taira loss simply a bump in the road or is the two-time champ about to lose ground to another up-and-coming fighter again?
Always tell me the odds
Plenty of respect for Moreno at -205 on FanDuel, but maybe not as much as you’d expect given the wide gap in experience and level of competition. Kavanagh only a slight underdog at +172.
Walkouts
Brandon Moreno is READY for the main event! 🇲🇽 #UFCMexico | #UFCMexicoCity | LIVE on TNT Sports & discovery+ pic.twitter.com/3deTEljPQF
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) March 1, 2026
Main Event Lone'er Kavanagh! 🚨🏴#UFCMexico | #UFCMexicoCity | LIVE on TNT Sports & discovery+ pic.twitter.com/gMO7mgCplG
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) March 1, 2026
Round 1
Herb Dean the third man in the cage for the main event.
Quick jab from Moreno has catches a kicking Kavanagh off balance. Kavanagh gets in and out and avoids a big counter. Moreno scores with a lunging left. Counter left from Kavanagh gets Moreno’s attention. Kavanagh mixing in kicks to the lead leg well. Moreno caps off a combination with a body shot. Nice jab from Moreno. Kavanagh really using his legs well. Looping right from Moreno glances Kavanagh’s chin. He ventures in, but Kavanagh makes him pay with a crisp counter punch. Moreno again with a left hand from long range. Outside leg kick from Moreno. Kavanagh takes a right and backs out of danger. They trade jabs. Kavanagh is mixing up his strikes so well. Edge to him in a competitive round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Kavanagh.
Round 2
They exhange punches, both fighters looking sharp. Moreno slips off of a Kavanagh kick. Combination from Moreno, but Kavanagh avoids the worst of it. Kavanagh right back to the leg kicks. He’s content to snipe at that lead leg until Moreno makes him change his strategy. Hard left from Kavanagh as Moreno ventures in for a leg kick. Moreno pops him with a jab. Left hand from Moreno scores.
Moreno’s leg visibly bothering him. He’s taking a lot of wild swings, Kavanagh smart not to be drawn into a brawl. Big combination from Kavanagh and he had Moreno wobbles. He lands a head kick and Moreno is still in this somehow. He’s in recovery mode with Kavanagh picking his spots. Still two minutes left in this round for Kavanagh to capitalize.
Moreno flicks out a jab to show he’s still in it. Kavanagh bristling with confidence now, he lands two more good shots. Jabs from Moreno, then he finds an opening for a right hand. Big round for Kavanagh.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Kavanagh. Overall, 20-18 Kavanagh.
Round 3
Moreno coming forward, but you can tell he’s hesitant to let his hands go given how most of the exchanges have been going. Could be time for Moreno to force a grappling contest. Left hand from Moreno gets around Kavanagh’s guard. He’s been the aggressor in the third. Moreno landing shots, but Kavanagh staying calm and he lands a counter. Kavanagh scores with a combination. He’s got to look out for Moreno’s counter left though.
Moreno in on a takedown, he pushes Kavanagh to the fence. Waist lock for Moreno, Kavanagh fighting the hands well. The grappling is inconclusive and Kavanagh gets Moreno off of him. Moreno scores with a right hand. Fancy kicks from Kavanagh, but Moreno has those scouted. Kavanagh goes back to the basics and clips Moreno’s lead leg. Nice right from Kavanagh. Moreno with another takedown attempt, Kavanagh has it well scouted. They’ll end the round stuck on the fence.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Moreno. Overall, 29-28 Kavanagh.
Round 4
Moreno pushing the pace, he lands two lefts. He wants to test Kavanagh’s conditioning. Level change and Moreno goes in on a takedown. Again, well defended by Kavanagh. Moreno driving knees in to Kavanagh’s leg, but otherwise it’s a stalemate.
Over a minute of this and Moreno hasn’t gained a significant advantage. Of course, Kavanagh hasn’t been able to do much either. Veteran savvy in full effect here as half a round has passed with little action other than Moreno walling-and-stalling. And Kavanagh is finally out of there.
Big leg kicks from Kavanagh. If Moreno doesn’t land anything, those could be enough for Kavanagh to take the round. Moreno is NOT wearing those well. Quick left from Kavanagh. Moreno advances with a punch. Kavanagh kicks the body, that’s been a good weapon for him tonight.
Moreno in on a single leg. He has to do something with it with less than a minute to go in this round or he’s losing it. Moreno lands a punch on the break. Not a lot to score, but feels like Kavanagh landed the most significant strikes.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Kavanagh. Overall, 39-37 Kavanagh.
Round 5
Moreno might need a finish here, but there have definitely been a couple of close rounds, including the fourth. Moreno right back to the grappling and they’re headed to the fence once more.
Dean steps in this time to reset the fight with little happening in the clinch. Over three minutes to work. Kavanagh is controlling the range with his kicks. Kavanagh fakes a knee and Moreno takes that as an invitation for another takedown attempt. Kavanagh has to defend against the fence once more. Dean calling for work.
Kavanagh fights the hands and is nearly out, but Moreno ducks in for another single leg. It has to be noted he has not actually scored a takedown. Kavanagh lands a punch as they break. Time is ticking away and Moreno needs something big. He reaches out with a right, a glancing shot. Kavanagh tags him with a trio of jabs. Counter combination from Kavanagh, Moreno back to the wrestling, but there’s no time to work a takedown. Kavanagh has this. He lands a spin kick to the body to cap off a great performance.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Kavanagh. Overall, 49-46 Kavanagh.
Official result: Lone’er Kavanagh def. Brandon Moreno via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
Post-fight
Kavanagh says he knows the fans probably don’t like him, but Mexico is amazing. Shout out to mom and dad.
“These moments, I said before the fight, I live for legendary moments and this is a legendary moment. Brandon is a legend, two-time world champ, and I’m a big fan, I watched him when I was a kid, and to get to fight him is amazing.”
Asked who he wants to fight next, Kavanagh gives the standard “anyone can get it.”
We won’t be hearing from Moreno, who you have to imagine wasn’t eager to stick around.
Verticals
sportsmma
Originally published on MMA Fighting on 3/1/2026