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Brandon Moreno steps into the Octagon this Saturday at Arena Ciudad de Mexico, marking his fifth fight there and fourth as a headliner. At 32, he nears a decade in the UFC. The Tijuana flyweight made history in June 2021, becoming the first Mexican-born UFC champion after submitting Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 263. Moreno's championship journey includes six title bouts, four against Figueiredo, but he enters this fight against Lone'er Kavanagh with a 2-2 record since his split decision loss to Alexandre Pantoja in July 2023. ESPN’s No. 7-ranked flyweight needs a win to stay in the title conversation. A loss could push him out of championship contention, despite his significant impact on Mexican MMA. Moreno reflects on his rapid rise, recalling his debut after a short-notice win over Louis Smolka, which earned him a $50,000 performance bonus that changed his life.
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