March 30, 2025, Mexico City, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico: Brandon Moreno of Mexico punches reacts after victory against Steve Erceg of Australia in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Mexico City Arena. on March 29, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. Mexico City Mexico – ZUMAe321 20250330_zsa_e321_054 Copyright: xIsmaelxRosasx
Heading down south for an amazing evening of fights, UFC Mexico is primed to deliver a rip-roaring event stacked with some of the country’s finest stars. In the main event, former flyweight king Brandon Moreno tackles late-notice replacement Lone’er Kavanagh. In the second-to-last match of the night, bantamweight staple Marlon Vera comes to blows with surging prospect David Martínez.
UFC Mexico Main Event
In the not-so-distant past, UFC Mexico’s Brandon Moreno was easily one of the preeminent competitors in the 125-lb class, bringing much attention to the weight category with his legendary tetralogy with Deiveson Figueiredo. However, in recent years, “The Assassin Baby” has fallen on hard times, losing his last bout to future title contender Tatsuro Taira by knockout, his first loss by strikes in his professional tenure.
Catapulting himself into stardom after a phenomenal performance on the Contender Series in 2024, Kavanagh looked to be on the fast track towards reaching the top 15 after two consecutive wins in the Octagon going into UFC Mexico. That momentum would be halted completely, sadly, following a second round stoppage defeat to Charles Johnson in China in his last time out.
UFC Mexico Co-Main Event
Making his company debut in the same city that he will be fighting in back in 2014, Vera has gone on to become a luminary name in the 135-lb division, a luminary that has struggled with consistency over the last few years. Dropping his last three contests back-to-back, “Chito” is in desperate need of a victory to keep himself relevant in the stacked top 10 at bantamweight.
Going undefeated in the last four years, Martínez has built up an impeccable win streak spanning nine tilts. Taking down the durable Rob Font in his previous Octagon outing, “Black Spartan” aims to further his conquest towards the belt by swatting away another fixture of the bantamweight upper echelon in UFC Mexico.
More Bouts On the UFC Mexico Main Card
Rounding out the main card, Daniel Zellhuber takes on veteran lightweight King Green. Before that, Édgar Cháirez tussles with Felipe Bunes. Then, Ultimate Fighter 33 alumni Imanol Rodríguez seeks to impress in his UFC debut against Kevin Borjas. Finally, Santiago Luna and Angel Pacheco duke it out in the opening bout of the post-preliminary festivities.
UFC Mexico Predictions and Staff Picks
MMASucka staff picks are composed of four of the world’s leading mixed martial arts organizations: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Professional Fighters League (PFL), ONE Championship (ONE FC), and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).
UFC picks will include main card fights ranging from four to six matchups per event.
PFL picks from main cards for pay-per-views and from tournament fights in the Regular Season, Playoffs, and Finals.
ONE FC and DWCS picks will feature all MMA fights from the event with a minimum of three matchups.
The individual who picks the most victorious fighters by the end of 2025 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or a detailed chain from Championship Chains. Staff picks in 2025 were won by Hank Strandberg with a record of 216-119.
Find our UFC Mexico 8 picks and fight odds below.
Staff records after UFC Houston:
Hank Strandberg: 20-11
Frazer Krohn: 19-13
Drew Zuhosky: 13-17
Andrew Benjamin: 2-3
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Santiago Luna -700
Vs.
Angel Pacheco +525
BANTAMWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand:
Hank Strandberg: Luna by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Luna by Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Pacheco by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Luna: 2
Staff picking Pacheco: 1
Imanol Rodriguez -450
Vs.
Kevin Borjas +350
FLYWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand:
Hank Strandberg: Rodriguez by First Round Knockout
Drew Zuhosky: Borjas by First Round Knockout
Frazer Kron: Borjas by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Rodriguez: 1
Staff picking Borjas: 2
Édgar Cháirez -310
Vs.
Felipe Bunes +240
FLYWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand:
Hank Strandberg: Cháirez by Second Round Submission
Drew Zuhosky: Bunes by Unanimous Decision
Frazer Kron: Bunes by First Round Knockout
Staff picking Cháirez: 1
Staff picking Bunes: 2
Daniel Zellhuber -500
Vs.
King Green +360
LIGHTWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand:
Hank Strandberg: Zellhuber by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Zellhuber by Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Greenby Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Zellhuber: 2
Staff picking Green: 1
David Martínez -310
Vs.
Marlon Vera +240
BANTAMWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand:
Hank Strandberg: Martínez by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Vera by First Round Knockout
Frazer Krohn: Vera by Split Decision
Staff picking Martínez: 1
Staff picking Vera: 2
Brandon Moreno -215
Vs.
Lone’er Kavanagh +172
FLYWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand:
Hank Strandberg: Moreno by Third Round Knockout
Drew Zuhosky: Moreno by Second Round Submission
Frazer Kron: Moreno by Fourth Round Submission
Staff picking Moreno: 3
Staff picking Kavanagh: 0