Two-time flyweight world champion Brandon Moreno’s push for one last title run ended with a massive upset in the main event of UFC Mexico City.
The beloved Tijuana native was supposed to be taking on number eight-ranked Asu Almabayev in his latest headliner. But when the Kazakh contender was forced out with an injury, youngster Lone’er Kavanagh jumped in on short notice to win a stunning Unanimous Decision.
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26-year-old Brit Kavanagh had just lost his unbeaten record to Charles Johnson in August of last year, and was already scheduled to take on Bruno Silva at the Meta Apex in two weeks’ time. But he answered the call when it came in for a monstrous step up in competition and delivered a shock result for the ages.
Brandon Moreno vs Lone’er Kavanagh UFC Mexico City result
While one might have expected some appreciation for Lone’er Kavanagh saving their main event, the Mexican crowd were as hostile towards the visiting Brit as they would be for any one of Brandon Moreno’s opponents.
The former flyweight champion was given a hero’s welcome as he made his 20th walk to the Octagon, looking to kickstart a run back to gold. After being stopped for the first time as a UFC fighter by Tatsuro Taira last time out, Moreno understood the pressure behind the assignment.
Kavanagh’s counter-punching was effective, as were some well-placed calf kicks early. And despite having no ranking place he looked comfortable in the octagon with a Hall of Fame-level opponent on just over three weeks’ notice.
By the end of round one, the effects of those calf kicks were clear as day on Moreno’s pale skin. Kavanagh continued to target the lead leg through the second, dominating position and wobbling the former champion with a combination of punches that almost saw him force a stoppage.
Heading into the third, an uneducated viewer would have been forgiven for thinking the veteran was the one with minimal marks who had been utterly dominant for ten minutes. There was much more urgency from Moreno in the early parts of round three, who was buoyed by a raucous home crowd.
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Questions about how Kavanagh would cope with the change in altitude fighting in Mexico City began to rear their head again as the third was a much better round for Moreno. And heading to the championship rounds, Moreno showed his experience.
When Moreno slowed the pace right down with grinding work against the cage he gave himself his best chance and perhaps snuck some rounds. And as a bloodied Moreno walked back to the corner with his hands up, Kavanagh answered with a backflip after the final bell.
All three judges agreed that Kavanagh had done enough to score a victory that immediately catapults him up the rankings at flyweight.
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