Lone’er Kavanagh pulls off huge upset over Brandon Moreno. On February 28, 2026, Brandon Moreno faced Kavanagh at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico, in a highly anticipated UFC 326 matchup. The fight delivered fireworks as Moreno showcased his experience and precision, while Kavanagh brought pressure and heart, giving fans a thrilling contest from start to finish.
Brandon Moreno came into the fight with a mixed but impressive record. The two-time UFC flyweight champion had faced some of the toughest opponents in the division. He ente red this fight looking to bounce back from a second-round TKO loss to Tatsuro Taira at UFC 323 in December 2025. Before that, he had secured victories over Amir Albazi and Steve Erceg showing his experience and skill at the highest level.
Lone’er Kavanagh, 26, was riding momentum from his early UFC career. He had earned his UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series in August 2024, finishing An Tuan Ho with a first-round KO. Kavanagh followed that with unanimous decision wins over Jose Ochoa and Felipe dos Santos, before suffering his first professional loss to Charles Johnson in August 2025.
The fight opened with Lone’er Kavanagh moving well and using sharp striking early. He landed strong leg kicks and clean punches that kept Moreno on the back foot. Moreno tried to find his range with jabs and looping hooks, but Kavanagh’s combination work and pace put the pressure on. Kavanagh’s aggressive striking and ability to keep Moreno guessing gave him the first round.
The second round started and Kavanagh continued to attack Moreno’s legs and set up powerful strikes. Midway through the round, he landed a head kick that visibly hurt Moreno and almost ended the fight. Moreno tried to close distance and mix in wrestling, but Kavanagh’s timely counter punches and kicks kept him ahead as he continued to control the action on the feet.
Round three started and Moreno came out more aggressive ready to fight harder, pushing the pace and looking to impose himself with pressure and takedown attempts. He landed some clean shots and began to slow Kavanagh’s rhythm. Despite Moreno’s increased activity and attempts to wrestle, Kavanagh stayed composed, using effective striking and movement to steal some moments late in the round. Moreno tried to slow Kavanagh with takedowns, but Kavanagh stayed composed and landed clean counters.
The fourth round saw both fighters settle into a rhythm, but Kavanagh’s leg kicks and counters stayed effective. Moreno tried to mix in more grappling and pressure, but Kavanagh’s balance and timing helped him avoid being taken down often. Kavanagh’s crisp combinations kept Moreno on the back foot and allowed him to maintain control of the round. Moreno tried to get in close, but Kavanagh’s striking and movement kept him ahead in the round.
The final round came and Moreno pushed hard, trying takedowns and combinations. He continued to look for takedowns and landed some hard shots in close, but Kavanagh’s defense remained solid. Kavanagh landed clean counters and a spinning body kick in the last round. He eventually finished the fight on top. In the end, the judges scored the fight 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47 with Kavanagh getting the unanimous decision win and the upset to beat Moreno at home.
“This moment, I said before this fight, I live for legendary moments,” Kavanagh said after the win. “This is a legendary moment. Brandon is a legend. Two-time world champ. I’m a big fan. I watched him when I was a kid. To get to fight him is amazing.”
Kavanagh fought smart and stayed calm throughout the fight. He never gave up and landed a lot of strikes, while Moreno looked tired, almost like he had been through a tough five-round battle. Kavanagh, meanwhile, came out looking fresh. This win is a big boost for Kavanagh in the UFC flyweight division. Moreno, on the other hand, has now lost two fights in a row and is 2‑4 in his last six fights.
