The UFC will need to find a replacement opponent for Brandon Moreno ahead of the organization’s return to Mexico at the end of February.
Moreno was set to face Asu Almabayev in the main event of a Feb. 28 Fight Night card at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, however, Almabayev announced he sustained a hand injury that will prevent him from facing Moreno.
Almabayev posted the news to social media with a photo of him wearing a cast on his right hand at the beginning of the week and the UFC announced Wednesday he would be replaced by England's Lone'er Kavanagh.
Almabayev, 32 from Kazakhstan, is coming off a submission win over Alex Perez in November and is 6-1 since debuting in the UFC in 2023. He is 23-3 overall in professional mixed martial arts and currently the No. 7-ranked men’s flyweight contender.
Kavanagh is considered one of the most promising talents in the men's 125-pound weight class but is coming off the first loss of his career. The 26-year-old hasn't competed since he was finished by Charles Johnson via TKO in August. Kavanagh had been scheduled to face Bruno Silva on March 14 but will instead headline the first UFC event of his young career on the last day of February. Ironically, Johnson has been selected to replace Kavanagh and will step in to face Silva in March.
Moreno, 32, from Tijuana, became the first Mexican-born UFC champion when he initially won the belt back in 2021. He will be making a relatively quick turnaround following a recent technical knockout loss at UFC 323 near the end of last year.
The former two-time flyweight titleholder is still ranked No. 5 in the division but was stopped by Tatsuro Taira on Dec. 6, snapping his two-fight winning streak.
The Feb. 28 event will mark the third consecutive year the UFC has held an event at Arena CDMX, with the previous two also headlined by Moreno, who lost a split decision to Brandon Royval in February of 2024 and won a unanimous decision over Steve Erceg there 11 months ago.
Matchups currently set for UFC Mexico City (bout order unconfirmed):
-- Brandon Moreno vs. Lone'er Kavanagh
-- Marlon Vera vs. David Martinez
-- Macy Chiasson vs. Ailin Perez
-- Edgar Chairez vs. Felipe Bunes
-- Daniel Zellhuber vs. Bobby “King” Green
-- Imanol Rodriguez vs. Kevin Borjas
-- Francis Marshall vs. Erik Silva
-- Santiago Luna vs. Angel Pacheco
-- Ryan Gandra vs. Jose Daniel Medina
-- Cristian Quinonez vs. Kris Moutinho
-- Damian Pinas vs. Wesley Schultz
-- Sofia Montenegro vs. Ernesta Kareckaite
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