Former flyweight champion and No. 6-ranked contender Brandon Moreno returns to his native country on Saturday night, taking on surging prospect Lone’er Kavanagh in the main event of UFC Mexico.
Moreno (23–9–2, 11–6–2 UFC) will look to rebound from a second-round TKO against Tatsuro Taira in December. Kavanagh (9–1, 2–1 UFC) will attempt to bounce back after suffering his first professional loss — also a second-round knockout — to Charles Johnson last August.
Moreno enters as a -205 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Kavanagh sits as a +170 underdog. The total is set at 4.5 rounds.
Moreno vs. Kavanagh Preview
Brandon Moreno
Brandon Moreno has struggled since losing his flyweight title to Alexandre Pantoja in July 2023. That bout — an underrated gem, by the way — marked the beginning of a grueling stretch for “The Assassin Baby,” who has now dropped three of his last five fights. He most recently suffered a second-round TKO loss to Tatsuro Taira in December.
Still, the 32-year-old veteran remains one of the most battle-tested fighters at 125 pounds, boasting three title fight wins and the fourth-most overall victories in the division’s history. All of his recent losses came against top competition: Taira and Pantoja, along with Brandon Royval and Deiveson Figueiredo.
Moreno, a jiu-jitsu specialist, pairs opportunistic grappling with aggressive striking — fueled by a championship gas tank. Sixteen of his 23 wins have come by finish, including five knockouts and 11 submissions.
He’ll be looking to put on a show in front of his home crowd, following an impressive UD victory over Steve Erceg in Mexico City last March.
Lone’er Kavanagh
Lone’er Kavanagh arrived in the UFC in November 2024 riding serious momentum. The undefeated prospect dazzled in Cage Warriors before punching his ticket to the big stage with a first-round knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series.
The British kickboxer picked up unanimous decision wins against Jose Ochoa and Felipe dos Santos in his first two trips to the Octagon, earning a shot at a ranked opponent. Against longtime UFC veteran Charles Johnson in August 2025, Kavanagh looked sharp early but faded in the second round — getting caught with a thunderous right hand that left him unconscious.
At just 26 years old, Kavanagh still has a promising UFC career ahead of him. He’s already got five finishes in his first 10 fights, including four knockouts and a submission. However, his latest outing raised questions about whether he’s truly ready to share the cage with the flyweight division’s very best.
Moreno vs. Kavanagh Pick, Best Bet
Saturday night’s main event makes for an exciting duel between two dynamic fighters, both aggressive on the feet and dangerous on the mat. Though Kavanagh has flashed promise in his young UFC career, he’ll soon get tested against a truly elite contender in the former flyweight champion.
While Moreno may be past his prime, his veteran savvy and five-round gas tank should allow him to overwhelm the inexperienced prospect. With the home crowd behind him, expect “The Assassin Baby” to go for the stoppage.
