The UFC Mexico City event will feature a new main event after Asu Almabayev withdrew from his scheduled fight against Brandon Moreno on February 28 at the CDMX Arena. The promotion has selected Lone’er Kavanagh, ranked #15 in the flyweight division, to replace Almabayev and face Moreno in the headline bout.
Brandon Moreno, a former two-time UFC flyweight champion currently ranked #4, will now face this surprising replacement as the UFC was unable to secure any contenders ranked between #5 and #14 for the matchup.
Profile of Lone’er Kavanagh and His UFC Journey
Lone’er Kavanagh, 26, holds a 9-1 professional record and is 2-1 under the UFC banner. He most recently suffered his first career defeat to Charles Johnson, known in the octagon as Inner G. Despite this recent loss, Kavanagh has been given this significant opportunity on short notice as the event approaches.
Kavanagh came into the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024 after initially building a reputation as an undefeated prospect with the U.K.’s Cage Warriors promotion. Prior to accepting this fight, he had been scheduled to compete against Buno Silva in March.
Full Fight Card for UFC Mexico Event
The UFC Mexico card on February 28 now includes a range of bouts alongside the Moreno vs. Kavanagh main event. The lineup is as follows:
- Brandon Moreno vs. Lone’er Kavanagh
- Édgar Cháirez vs. Felipe Bunes
- Marlon Vera vs. David Martínez
- Imanol Rodriguez vs. Kevin Borjas
- Daniel Zellhuber vs. King Green
- Santiago Luna vs. Angel Pacheco
- Ryan Gandra vs. José Daniel Medina
- Macy Chiasson vs. Ailín Pérez
- Damian Pinas vs. Wesley Schultz
- Cristian Quiñonez vs. Kris Moutinho
- Sofia Montenegro vs. Ernesta Kareckaitė
- Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Javier Reyes
- Francis Marshall vs. Erik Silva
Implications and Outlook for the Headlining Bout
This abrupt opponent change highlights the challenges the UFC faces in lining up matchups with top-ranked fighters on short notice. Brandon Moreno’s contest against Kavanagh will test the former champion’s adaptability against a fresh but less highly regarded challenger. The event in Mexico City offers Kavanagh a chance to elevate his UFC standing significantly, while Moreno aims to maintain his position among the flyweight elite.
