Kavanagh Stuns Former Champ Moreno
Lone'er Kavanagh defeated former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno by unanimous decision in a major upset at UFC Fight Night in Mexico City. Kavanagh's tactical approach, crisp striking, and movement frustrated Moreno throughout the bout, with Kavanagh declaring his intent to pursue the title post-fight. The victory immediately vaults Kavanagh into the championship conversation in the flyweight division.
The victory for Lone'er Kavanagh came on hostile ground, as the UFC Fight Night event took place in Mexico City, marking Brandon Moreno's eighth appearance in his home country. The 26-year-old Kavanagh, who was unranked, stepped in on less than a month's notice to replace the injured Asu Almabayev. This was not only Kavanagh's first UFC main event but also his first-ever five-round fight. The unanimous decision was rendered with scores of 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47 in favor of the English fighter. Kavanagh's effective striking, which included a flash knockdown and damaging calf kicks, bloodied Moreno's face and left him limping. Despite Moreno finding some success with his wrestling by pressing Kavanagh against the fence in the middle rounds, he was unable to secure a takedown. This win marked a significant turnaround for Kavanagh, whose professional record now stands at 10-1. In his previous fight in August 2025, he suffered the first loss of his career via a knockout by Charles Johnson. His journey to the UFC included a successful stint in the Cage Warriors promotion and earning a contract through Dana White's Contender Series. For the former two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno, this loss marks his second consecutive defeat and drops his record to 2-4 since his last title defense. Prior to this fight, Moreno was ranked #6 in the UFC flyweight division. The 32-year-old from Tijuana was coming off the first stoppage loss of his career in his previous bout. The flyweight division is currently reigned by champion Joshua Van. With this major upset, Kavanagh catapults himself into the title conversation, likely breaking into the top 15 rankings. Moreno, on the other hand, will have to reassess his path back to the championship picture, which includes top contenders like Alexandre Pantoja, Brandon Royval, and Amir Albazi.
