Brandon Moreno loses on UFC Mexico main card as Lone'er Kavanagh upsets brandon moreno
Lone'er Kavanagh upset former UFC flyweight champion brandon moreno in Mexico City, winning by unanimous decision on the UFC Mexico main card in a result that immediately shifts momentum in the division. The British fighter took the bout on just three weeks' notice and left with a unanimous decision scoreline of 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47.
Brandon Moreno edged on the cards in Mexico City
The judges awarded Kavanagh the win 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47 over Brandon Moreno, handing the Mexican star a defeat in front of his home fans in Mexico City. Moreno, a former two-time world champion, entered the fight ranked sixth in the division; the loss continues a difficult run, marking his fourth defeat in his past six fights.
Lone'er Kavanagh took the fight on three weeks' notice after Asu Almabayev withdrawal
Kavanagh accepted the matchup when Asu Almabayev withdrew because of injury, stepping in on three weeks' notice. The 26-year-old Briton was unranked heading into the contest and had won three of his four UFC fights before this bout. He came into the fight having suffered the first defeat of his 11-fight career against Charles Johnson in August.
How Kavanagh built the victory: leg kicks, a second-round flurry and takedown defense
From the early stages Kavanagh took control, keeping Moreno at bay with a series of leg kicks. He hurt Moreno with a flurry of punches midway through the second round. Moreno found more success in the third round, but Kavanagh regained control with further heavy leg kicks and saw out the fight by defending a number of takedowns to preserve his lead on the scorecards.
Kavanagh called the win a "legendary moment" and it is the 10th of his 11-fight career
After the decision Kavanagh said, "I said before this fight - I live for legendary moments. This is a legendary moment. Brandon is a legend. Two-time world champ. I'm a big fan. I watched him when I was a kid. To get to fight him is amazing. " The victory was the 10th of Kavanagh's 11-fight career, and it will propel him toward the top end of the division after beating the sixth-ranked Moreno.
Immediate implications: a career-defining win for Kavanagh and a worrying run for Moreno
Kavanagh's win is the biggest of his career and should elevate his standing after an 11-fight run that now includes 10 wins. For Moreno, the defeat in front of his home crowd compounds a difficult sequence; it is his fourth loss in six fights and raises questions about his next steps in the flyweight division. Kavanagh's upset on the UFC Mexico main card reshuffles short-term positioning in the weight class.
