Moreno now to face Kavanagh at UFC Fight Night on Feb. 28

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.