Lone'er Kavanagh Stuns Brandon Moreno at UFC Mexico City in One of the Year's Biggest Upsets
Lone'er Kavanagh pulled off one of the most stunning upsets in recent UFC flyweight history Saturday night, February 28, 2026 ET, defeating two-time former champion Brandon Moreno by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Fight Night 268 at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico. The 26-year-old Englishman stepped in on just over three weeks' notice and delivered a masterclass in counter-striking before a hostile Mexico City crowd.
Kavanagh Defeats Brandon Moreno via Unanimous Decision at UFC Mexico City
Despite entering as a sizable underdog, Kavanagh walked away with a stunning unanimous decision win — scored 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47 — over former two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno inside Arena CDMX in Mexico City.
Kavanagh's counter-punching was effective from the opening bell, as were some well-placed calf kicks in the early rounds. Despite having no ranking and coming in on short notice, he looked comfortable in the Octagon against a Hall of Fame-level opponent. By the end of round one, the effects of those calf kicks were clearly visible on Moreno's skin.
The fight flipped decisively in round two. Kavanagh detonated a blistering counter combination that badly wobbled Moreno and nearly ended the fight. The underdog continued keeping Moreno at bay, mixing calf kicks with crisp straight shots throughout the remainder of the round.
Moreno showed veteran experience heading into the third, ramping up the pressure and repeatedly landing his overhand right while forcing clinch exchanges along the fence. The fight turned gritty, with Moreno grinding Kavanagh against the cage and landing knees and short elbows inside.
Brandon Moreno Record Falls Again After Mexico City Defeat
Brandon Moreno's record now sits at 23-10-2 following the loss. The two-time UFC flyweight champion has now lost four of his last six bouts and suffered back-to-back defeats, having been stopped by Tatsuro Taira at UFC 323 in December 2025 in what was the first knockout loss of his UFC career.
The main event was originally scheduled to feature Moreno against number-eight ranked Asu Almabayev, who withdrew due to a hand injury. Kavanagh jumped in as a short-notice replacement despite already being scheduled to face Bruno Gustavo da Silva at a different event just two weeks later.
The Mexico City crowd was as hostile toward visiting Brit Kavanagh as they would be for any one of Moreno's opponents. Kavanagh answered with a backflip after the final bell, a moment that will define highlight reels for years to come.
Lone'er Kavanagh UFC Record and Contendership Declared After Upset Win
Kavanagh took full advantage of his short-notice opportunity, authoring a breakthrough performance that catapulted him up the flyweight rankings. The result was particularly remarkable given that this was just his eleventh professional fight.
In his post-fight interview, Kavanagh acknowledged the crowd's reaction but declared: "These moments — I live for legendary moments and this is a legendary moment. Brandon is a legend, two-time world champ, and I'm a big fan. I watched him when I was a kid, and to get to fight him is amazing."
Kavanagh was awarded a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus for the victory. He called out the division at large, offering the standard "anyone can get it" when asked who he wants to fight next.
UFC Mexico City Full Card Results
The co-main event saw David Martinez defeat Marlon Vera, extending the former title challenger's four-fight losing skid. King Green defeated Daniel Zellhuber in the lightweight bout, while Edgar Cháirez defeated Felipe Bunes in a flyweight contest. Imanol Rodriguez defeated Kevin Borjas and earned the Fight of the Night bonus. Ailín Pérez defeated Macy Chiasson in the women's bantamweight bout.
Kavanagh now stands as one of the most talked-about names in the UFC flyweight division. Whether this performance earns him a top-five opponent or an immediate title eliminator remains to be seen — but after UFC Mexico City, the 26-year-old Brit can no longer be overlooked.
