Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is in Mexico City, Mexico, tonight (Sat., Feb. 28, 2026) to stage UFC Mexico City from inside Arena CDMX despite the fact that part of the country has erupted in cartel violence after one of the biggest drug lords in the world, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes — also known as “El Mencho” — was killed by operatives. The event will featue a Flyweight bout between Brandon Moreno vs. Lone’er Kavanagh. In the co-main event of the evening, Marlon Vera will battle David Martinez in a pivotal Bantamweight bout streaming live on Paramount+.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 06: Brandon Moreno of Mexico walks to the Octagon prior to his flyweight fight against Tatsuro Taira of Japan during the UFC 323 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 06, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)
UFC Mexico City Cheat Sheet
What UFC event is on tonight? UFC Mexico City: “Moreno vs. Kavanagh”
Who is fighting tonight at UFC Mexico City ? Brandon Moreno vs. Lone’er Kavanagh Flyweight fight is the five-round main event.
What time does UFC Mexico City start? TONIGHT (Sat., Feb. 28, 2026), beginning at 5 p.m. ET on Paramount+.
Where will UFC Mexico City take place? Arena CDMX, in Mexico City, Mexico
How can I watch UFC Mexico City ? Paramount+ “Prelims” undercard matches are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET on Paramount+, followed by the remaining main card balance on Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET.
How do I bet on UFC Mexico City? Checkout the latest lines right here and bet at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Where can I get UFC Mexico City updates and results? Get full UFC Mexico City play-by-play updates and live coverage here!
Moreno, a former Flyweight champion, is set to begin his climb back toward reclaiming the division title almost three years removed from his last championship opportunity. In his most recent outing, Moreno was stopped by current No. 1 contender, Tatsuro Taira (see it here), snapping his two-fight win streak. Moreno has long been one of the more entertaining 125-pound fighters in the sport, but he is in danger of falling further down the ladder if he drops his second in a row. He is currently ranked No. 6, but another win will get him back into the Top 5.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 27: Lone’er Kavanagh of England poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night official weigh-in at InterContinental Mexico City on February 27, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
As for Kavanagh, he has a opportunity of a lifetime here if he can pull off the upset after stepping in to fill the void left by Asu Almabayev. He is currently unranked in the Top 15 and was last seen losing via knockout to Charles Johnson six months ago. That was the first loss of his career after starting off with a perfect record (8-0), including five finishes. Kavanagh was offered the fight after Kyoji Horiguchi turned it down; therefore, even if he wasn’t the matchmakers’ first choice, he can turn the division upside-down with a huge win here. For that to happen, however, he will have to be on his “A” game because Moreno is still one of the best in the division.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 27: (L-R) Ailin Perez of Argentina and Macy Chiasson face off during the UFC Fight Night official weigh-in at InterContinental Mexico City on February 27, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Ailin Perez is currently ranked No. 7 in the women’s Bantamweight division and is riding a five-fight win streak. Her opponent, Macy Chiasson, meanwhile, is one two-fight losing streak. Granted, she is seeded No. 8, but it’s still a puzzling matchup given their respective runs. I am surprised Perez accepted the bout against a fighter on a slump who is ranked behind her (and has serious weight-related issues).
Original Card Vs. Actual Card/Injuries
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JULY 26: Asu Almabayev of Kazakstan reacts after a victory against Jose Ochoa of Peru in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Etihad Arena on July 26, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
The main event was initially set to feature Moreno against the aforementioned Almabayev, who bowed out with an injury, before the promotion had to turn to Kavanagh. In addition, a women’s Flyweight bout between Ernesta Kareckaite vs. Sofia Montenegro was originally scheduled for this event before Montenegro bowed out for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by UFC newcomer, Regina Tarin (details here). The fight will take place at a Catchweight of 130 pounds.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 27: (L-R) Regina Tarin of Mexico and Ernesta Kareckaite of Lithuania face off during the UFC Fight Night official weigh-in at InterContinental Mexico City on February 27, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Tarin got the late call up to make her UFC debut after Montenegro had to withdraw from her fight against Kareckaite. Tarin is undefeated (7-0) with six finishes, four in the first round; therefore, she is a welcomed addition to the women’s Flyweight division. As for Kareckaite, she will be making her third trip to the Octagon with a record of 6-1 with six impressive stoppages of her own.
A couple of Contender Series standouts in Wes Schultz vs. Damian Pinas will kick off the event in a Middleweight collision. Pinas is currently on a four-fight win streak, while Schultz has won his last two. A win is of the utmost importance for both men if they want to get off on the right foot.
Javier Reyes will put his two-fight win streak on the line as the Contender Series standout makes his Octagon debut against Douglas Silva de Andrade, who is 1-2 in his last three UFC fights. It has taken Reyes a long time to get to the big show, making his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut in 2014, and competing 27 times since then.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 07: Imanol Rodriguez of Mexico reacts after a TKO victory against Roque Conceicao of Brazil in a flyweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season nine, week nine at UFC APEX on October 07, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Imanol Rodriguez is another Mexican-born fighter looking to please the hometown crowd, putting his undefeated record (6-0) on the line in his promotional debut against Kevin Borjas. Rodriguez has finished all six of his opponents, four in the first round. As for Borjas, “El Gallo” has had a rough run inside the Octagon so far, going just 1-3, which includes his most recent defeat at the hands of Su Mudaerji.
How The ‘Prelims’ Look:
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 27: (L-R) Erik Silva of Venezuela and Francis Marshall face off during the UFC Fight Night official weigh-in at InterContinental Mexico City on February 27, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Erik Silva has gotten off to a rough start to his UFC career, losing his first two fights. Granted, his most recent defeat at the hands of Muhammadjon Naimov was a result of an injury, but the fact remains he needs a win when he goes up against Francis Marshall, who is 1-3 in his last four fights inside the Octagon.
Kris Moutinho’s second run with the promotion got started off on the wrong foot again after losing to Malcolm Wellmaker via first round knockout (see it again here). In his first run, he went winless (0-2) before getting the boot, so if he loses to Cristian Quinones — who is on a two-fight losing streak and just 1-2 inside the Octagon — he will likely be out of the promotion for good.
Jose Medina is currently on a four-fight losing streak, which includes a loss on Contender Series, and then three straight once he made his official debut. Another loss and he will likely be out of the promotion as he welcomes UFC newcomer, Ryan Gandra, who is on a seven-fight win streak with six coming by way of stoppage.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 27: (L-R) Marlon Vera of Ecuador and David Martinez of Mexico face off during the UFC Fight Night official weigh-in at InterContinental Mexico City on February 27, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Since losing to Sean O’Malley in a 135-pound title fight at UFC 299 two years ago, Marlon Vera simply hasn’t been the same. Indeed, since that defeat to “Suga,” he has gone onto lose two straight at the hands of Deiveson Figueiredo and Aiemann Zahabi. Now, he is in danger of his first-ever, four-fight losing streak as he goes up against David Martinez, who is ranked one spot behind Vera at No. 10. Martinez is on a nine-fight win streak. A loss for Vera likely won’t get him cut, but he will have dug himself in a hole that will be hard to climb out of.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 27: (L-R) Daniel Zellhuber of Mexico and King Green face off during the UFC Fight Night official weigh-in at InterContinental Mexico City on February 27, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Daniel Zellhuber has been up an down in his UFC career. He stumbled out of the gate with a loss in his UFC debut, then won three straight. Since then, he has lost his last two as he goes into his fight against King Green, who snapped his own two-fight skid in his last outing, defeating Lance Gibson Jr. in Dec. 2025 via razor-thin split decision.
Edgar Chairez will have the hometown crowed behind him when he goes up against Brazilian bomber, Felipe Bunes. Chairez is coming off a win over C.J. Vergara, his first win since losing to current 125-pound champion, Joshua Van. As for Bunes, he also lost to Van in his UFC debut and bounced back with a win over Jose Johnson. He suffered another setback in his last outing by losing to Rafael Estevam.
Santiago Luna is undefeated (7-0), which includes an impressive showing in his Octagon debut by defeating Quang Le in Sept. 2025. He will battle Angel Pacheco, who is currently on a two-fight losing streak, including a loss on Contender Series, and then another hiccup in his proper Octagon debut at the hands of Caolan Loughran.
Full UFC Mexico City Fight Card: UFC Mexico Main Event on Paramount+:
125 lbs.: Brandon Moreno vs. Lone’er Kavanagh
UFC Mexico Main Card on Paramount+ (8 p.m. ET):
135 lbs.: Marlon Vera vs. David Martinez
155 lbs.: Daniel Zellhuber vs. King Green
125 lbs.: Edgar Chairez vs. Felipe Bunes
125 lbs.: Imanol Rodriguez vs. Kevin Borjas
135 lbs.: Santiago Luna vs. Angel Pacheco
UFC Mexico ‘Prelims’ Card On Paramount+ (5 p.m. ET):
185 lbs.: Jose Medina vs. Ryan Gandra
135 lbs.: Macy Chiasson vs. Ailin Perez
135 lbs.: Cristian Quinonez vs. Kris Moutinho
135 lbs.: Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Javier Reyes
125 lbs.: Ernesta Kareckaite vs. Regina Tarin (not Sofia Montenegro)
145 lbs.: Erik Silva vs. Francis Marshall
185 lbs.: Wes Schultz vs. Damian Pinas
*Fight card, bout order and amount of fights remain subject to change
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