The UFC is pushing ahead with its planned event in Mexico, despite a surge of cartel violence in the country.

The MMA promotion is set to touch down in the country’s capital, Mexico City, this Saturday. Just days ahead of the card, the Mexican military staged an operation in the nearby state of Jalisco, which led to the death of “El Mencho,” Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the mastermind behind the dangerous Jalisco New Generation Cartel (JNGC).

Following the operation, which also left 25 members of the Mexican National Guard dead, the cartel responded by burning cars and blocking streets in the region. The chaos has affected the travel plans of throngs foreign visitors, including many Americans.

Despite that, the UFC is confident the event in Mexico City can still be pulled off safely.

UFC Mexico event going ahead as planned

Speaking to TMZ, a UFC official stated the event is “proceeding as planned at this time.”

That makes sense, as the cartel response to El Mencho’s death has yet to reach Mexico City. That’s according to Mexican MMA reporter Rodrigo Del Campo González.

Talked to several sources this morning, and as of now there are no plans of moving or canceling the UFC’s event in Mexico City. They are monitoring the situation, but nothing has happened in or around Mexico City. There’s been UFC staff on the ground since this past weekend. 1/2

— Rodrigo Del Campo González (@RodDelCampo) February 23, 2026

“Talked to several sources this morning, and as of now there are no plans of moving or canceling the UFC’s event in Mexico City,” he reported. “They are monitoring the situation, but nothing has happened in or around Mexico City. There’s been UFC staff on the ground since this past weekend.”

Gonzáles added that moving the card to US soil is not practical. That’s because many fighters on the bill would need to work out different visa situations to enter the US.

“An issue with moving the event would be US work visas with several Latin American fighter on the card, not easy to just fly everyone to Vegas and hold it there,” he said.

Should it go ahead, UFC Mexico will be headlined by a flyweight fight between former champ Brandon Moreno, and prospect Lone’er Kavanagh.