Brett OkamotoFeb 5, 2026, 06:16 AM
CloseBrett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: “Chuck and Tito,” which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
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Former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno has a new opponent in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Feb. 28 in Mexico City, after his original opponent withdrew due to injury.
Moreno (23-9-1) will face English prospect Lone’er Kavanagh (9-1) in a five-round contest, inside Arena CDMX. The first Mexican-born champion in UFC history was originally supposed to face Asu Almabayaev (23-3) in the main event, but Almabayaev withdrew this week. Moreno, who won the UFC title in 2021 and 2022, is looking to rebound from a loss to Tatsuro Taira in December.
Almabayaev is currently ranked ahead of Kavanagh in the flyweight division at No. 7, however this might be a more intriguing matchup for Moreno. Kavanagh, 26, who is one of the top prospects at 125 pounds and has recorded four knockouts in his nine career wins. Fighting out of London, Kavanagh is currently ranked No. 15 in the division.
Kavanagh was scheduled to compete on the March 14 card against Brazil’s Bruno Silva (15-7-2). Silva will now face veteran Charles Johnson instead, who just suffered a first-round knockout loss to Alex Perez on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas.