UFC Fight Night 268: Moreno vs. Kavanagh | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Ariel Helwhiney
- May 23
- 2 min read
Introduction
UFC Fight Night 268: Moreno vs. Kavanagh took place on February 28, 2026 at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico — the UFC’s eighth visit to Mexico City and first since UFC on ESPN: Moreno vs. Erceg in March 2025. The flyweight main event was originally scheduled as Brandon Moreno vs. Asu Almabayev, but Almabayev withdrew due to a hand injury and was replaced on short notice by unranked Lone’er Kavanagh. The card drew 16,454 fans.
In one of the biggest upsets of 2026, Kavanagh dominated Moreno over five rounds to earn a clear unanimous decision and $100k Performance of the Night honors. The English striker’s speed, kicks, and calf attacks dismantled the former two-time champion, who dropped to four losses in his last six fights. David Martinez defeated Marlon Vera by UD in the co-main, extending Vera’s losing skid to four straight. King Green stopped Daniel Zellhuber via R2 TKO. Seven of 13 fights ended in stoppages.
Quick Stats
📍 Venue: Arena CDMX, Mexico City, Mexico | Feb 28, 2026 | 8th visit to Mexico City | Att: 16,454
✅ Result: Lone’er Kavanagh def. Brandon Moreno via Unanimous Decision (Round 5, 5:00) — UPSET
⭐ Notable: Kavanagh short-notice replacement upsets former 2x champ Moreno ($100k PoN) | Moreno 4 of last 6 losses | Martinez UD Vera (Chito 4th straight loss) | Green TKO Zellhuber R2 | Rodriguez PoN ($100k) | Tarin vs. Kareckaitė FotN ($100k) | Pinas TKO Schultz R1 | Marshall Sub Silva R1 | Gandra TKO Medina R1 (debut) | 7 of 13 stoppages | $100k bonuses + $25k finish bonuses
Full Results
Lone’er Kavanagh def. Brandon Moreno — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 5) | UPSET | Short-notice replacement | $100k PoN | Moreno 4 of last 6 losses
David Martinez def. Marlon Vera — UD R3 (Vera 4th straight loss); King Green def. Daniel Zellhuber — TKO R2; Imanol Rodriguez — $100k PoN; Damian Pinas def. Wes Schultz — TKO R1; Francis Marshall def. Erik Silva — Sub (RNC) R1; Ryan Gandra def. Jose Medina — TKO R1 (debut); Regina Tarin vs. Ernesta Kareckaitė — FotN ($100k)
Legacy & Impact
UFC Mexico delivered one of the biggest upsets of 2026. Kavanagh, stepping in on short notice after Almabayev’s withdrawal, authored a breakthrough performance against the two-time former champion in his home country. Moreno’s continued decline — four losses in six fights — raised serious questions about his future in the title picture. Vera’s fourth straight loss was equally concerning for the former title challenger. Green’s TKO of hometown hope Zellhuber was a gutsy performance, and the card’s $100k bonuses plus $25k additional finish bonuses rewarded the night’s violence.
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