![\"MMA:](\"https:\/\/images.deadspin.com\/tr:w-900\/25728837.jpg\")
Mar 21, 2025; London, United Kingdom; UFC flyweight Lone’er Kavanagh during official weigh ins for UFC Fight Night at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\nLone’er Kavanagh left former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno bloodied and bruised for an upset victory in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Mexico City.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n England’s Kavanagh downed Mexico’s Moreno via unanimous decision in the non-title bout, securing the judges’ scorecards 49-46, 48-47, 48-47. Kavanagh was a late replacement for Asu Almabayev (23-3 MMA), who withdrew due to a hand injury, per a social media post on Feb. 3.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Kavanagh (10-1 MMA) dictated the fight early on, buckling Moreno (23-10-2 MMA) with a flurry of punches and kicks in Round 2. The pace slowed dramatically as the championship rounds (rounds 4 and 5 in traditional title fights and non-title main events) approached.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Kavanagh, 26, tipped his cap to Moreno, 32, calling him a “legend.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “I said before the fight, I live for legendary moments,” Kavanagh said afterward. “This is a legendary moment. Brandon is a legend, a former two-time world champion.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n With only four UFC fights to his name, Kavanagh welcomes all challengers.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “Anyone can come and get it,” Kavanagh said.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Moreno has now lost back-to-back fights and three of his last five outings. He entered the fight ranked No. 6 in the flyweight division, a ranking he has hovered around since losing the title again in July 2023.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n But for Kavanagh, a new era at 125 pounds may have just emerged.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n A bantamweight co-main event featured Mexico’s David Martinez against a former UFC bantamweight title challenger in Marlon Vera. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n Martinez (14-1 MMA) handed Vera (23-12-1 MMA) his fifth loss in his last six fights due in large part to a balanced attack of crisp striking, effortless wrestling and preserving energy when Vera pushed forward.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n The unanimous decision win, all by 29-28 scores, extended Vera’s skid to four and could launch Martinez on the verge of stardom in the 135-pound division. Martinez has won 10 straight matches overall and is 3-0 in the UFC.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “I’ll be ready,” Martinez said after the fight, not hinting at future opponents.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n An unexpected thriller saw King Green (formerly Bobby Green) secure a brutal TKO stoppage (strikes) against Mexico’s Daniel Zellhuber at lightweight. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n Green (34-17, 1 NC MMA) used all but the last 5 seconds of the second round to send Zellhuber (15-3 MMA) to his third consecutive loss. Green, 39, said he would be open to fighting former “Ultimate Fighter” 5 winner Nate Diaz should Diaz return to the UFC in an intense post-fight talk from Green.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Diaz (21-13 MMA) has not fought for the promotion since September 2022, opting instead to box the likes of Jake Paul and former UFC welterweight title challenger and ex-“BMF” champion Jorge Masvidal (35-17 MMA).<\/p>\n<\/section>\n More flyweight action took center stage as the main card moved along. In a split decision, Mexico’s Edgar Chairez edged Felipe Bunes in an all-action affair 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 in a fight that primarily stayed standing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Chairez (13-6, 1 NC MMA), who has two straight and three of his last four bouts, is still chasing aspirations of winning a title in the near future. Bunes (14-9 MMA) has lost three of his last four fights.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Flyweights Imanol Rodriguez, in his UFC debut, and Kevin Borjas brought the Arena CMDX crowd to its feet as Borjas nearly won by first-round TKO.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The bout lasted to the second round and turned when an overhand right gave Rodriguez (7-0 MMA) his first win at MMA’s highest level and sixth overall KO\/TKO finish at 4:21 of the round.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Borjas (10-5 MMA) has now lost four of his five UFC appearances, including a Nov. 2023 unanimous decision loss to current UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van (16-2 MMA) at UFC 295.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Bantamweight Santiago Luna used a mix of combinations to earn a unanimous decision against American Angel Pacheco, all by scores of 30-27, to begin the UFC Fight Night six-fight main card.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Luna (8-0 MMA) earned his second UFC win, while a resilient Pacheco (7-4 MMA) has not sniffed the win column since Aug. 2022 and has yet to find his footing in the promotion.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n