TLDR
- Brandon Moreno faces Lone’er Kavanagh on two weeks’ notice in Mexico City main event on February 28
- Kavanagh replaced injured Asu Almabayev and jumps from No. 15 to face No. 6 ranked Moreno
- Marlon Vera priced as +210 underdog against David Martinez in bantamweight co-main event
- Martinez enters on nine-fight win streak as -250 to -280 favorite with home crowd advantage
- Full 13-fight card streams on Paramount+ with prelims at 5 p.m. ET and main card at 8 p.m. ET
Sources: mmanews.com | lowkickmma.com | mmaoddsbreaker.com
Former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno will headline UFC Fight Night on February 28 at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. The event marks a homecoming for one of the UFC’s most accomplished Mexican fighters.
Moreno was originally scheduled to face surging contender Asu Almabayev, but a hand injury forced Almabayev to withdraw. England’s Lone’er Kavanagh accepted the fight on roughly two weeks’ notice, stepping into a major opportunity against the division’s No. 6 ranked fighter.
Kavanagh holds a 9-1 record with four knockouts and earned his UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series. The 26-year-old aggressive striker currently ranks No. 15 in the flyweight division.
Moreno brings a 23-9-2 record and extensive championship experience to the five-round main event. He is coming off a loss to Tatsuro Taira and is looking to return to winning form in front of his home crowd.
The former champion is known for his high-volume boxing, scrambling ability, and opportunistic submissions. Kavanagh most recently suffered a knockout loss to Charles Johnson but possesses real knockout power in his striking.
Marlon Vera vs. David Martinez is set for #UFC Mexico on February 28th in Mexico City, Mexico.#mexico #fight @chitoveraUFC pic.twitter.com/95dddN1XUT
— West Till Death (@WestTillDeath) January 13, 2026
Vera Enters as Underdog Against Martinez
The co-main event features bantamweight veteran Marlon “Chito” Vera against rising contender David Martinez. Martinez is installed as a heavy favorite at major U.S. sportsbooks, with lines ranging from -250 to -280.
Vera is priced as an underdog at roughly +210 to +220, translating to implied win probabilities of 26-30 percent. The odds reflect Martinez’s current momentum against Vera’s recent struggles.
Martinez enters the bout on a nine-fight winning streak with a 13-1 record. Most of his victories have come by stoppage or dominant decision, and he currently sits inside the top 10 of the UFC bantamweight rankings.
Vera carries a 23-11-1 record but has dropped three consecutive fights. His most recent loss came by split decision to Aiemann Zahabi in Vancouver.
The Mexican crowd will provide home advantage for Martinez, who is positioned to move closer to title contention with a win. Vera needs a statement victory to regain standing in the division after his recent slide.
Betting markets favor Martinez to win by TKO or knockout, with those outcomes priced around -120 to even money. The fight going the distance is listed at +300 to +400 at most books.
Full Card Details and Viewing Information
The main card begins at 8 p.m. ET, with preliminary fights starting at 5 p.m. ET. The entire event will stream live on Paramount+ in the United States.
Daniel Zellhuber faces Bobby Green in a lightweight bout that showcases Mexico’s rising prospect against a veteran fighter. Edgar Chairez is also scheduled for a flyweight bout on the main card.
The preliminary card features multiple Mexican and Latin American fighters across lightweight, featherweight, and women’s divisions. The 13-fight card includes matchups across seven weight classes.
A Moreno victory would keep him in the immediate title conversation at flyweight. An upset win for Kavanagh would instantly elevate him into the rankings mix and establish him as a new contender in the division.
