Major Upset at UFC Mexico
England's Lone'er Kavanagh pulled off a stunning upset against Brandon Moreno in the main event of UFC Mexico. The victory shakes up the flyweight rankings and marks a significant moment in the division, with official scorecards confirming the result.
The fight was a classic hometown hero scenario, with former two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno fighting in front of a passionate Mexico City crowd. Moreno, the first Mexican-born champion in UFC history, was looking to regain momentum after a recent knockout loss and keep his name in the title conversation. He entered the octagon as the #6 ranked flyweight contender. Originally, Moreno was slated to face Asu Almabayev, but an injury forced Almabayev to withdraw. Stepping in on just three weeks' notice was the unranked 26-year-old from England, Lone'er Kavanagh. Not only was Kavanagh facing a former champion in his opponent's backyard, but he was also coming off the first loss of his professional career, a knockout defeat in August 2025. From the outset, Kavanagh's kickboxing was the story of the fight. He effectively used leg kicks to batter Moreno's lead leg and controlled the distance with sharp, lightning-fast counters. In the second round, a flurry of punches from Kavanagh rocked the durable former champion, leaving him visibly hurt and limping. While Moreno showed his trademark toughness and tried to rally in the later rounds by using his wrestling to control Kavanagh against the fence, he was unable to mount enough significant offense to sway the judges. Kavanagh's consistent pressure and striking output proved to be the difference. The bout went the full 25 minutes, a first for Kavanagh in his professional career. The judges' scorecards confirmed the monumental upset, with Kavanagh winning a unanimous decision with scores of 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47. For his performance, Kavanagh was awarded a $100,000 "Performance of the Night" bonus. This loss marks a significant setback for the 32-year-old Moreno, who is now on a two-fight losing streak and has lost four of his last six fights. For Kavanagh, the victory catapults him from an unranked prospect to a serious contender in the flyweight division, shaking up the title picture. In his post-fight interview, Kavanagh acknowledged the magnitude of the moment, calling Moreno a "legend" he used to watch as a kid.
