Lone’er Kavanagh (10-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) took a massive gamble in agreeing to face former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno in Saturday’s main event, but it paid off in style for the young Englishman.
Coming off the first defeat of his career (a brutal knockout loss to Charles Johnson in which his gas tank failed him) Kavanagh’s decision to accept such a tough fight on short notice, while also competing in his opponent’s backyard at elevation, seemed absurd at first glance. But after delivering one of the best performances of his career just four fights into his UFC tenure, the 26-year-old has opened the door to significant opportunities moving forward.
Kavanagh was unranked heading into Saturday’s bout at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, but that should change when the updated standings are released tomorrow. He may well find himself paired next with the top ten’s other Brandon.
Brandon Royval (17-9 MMA, 7-5 UFC) has increasingly been used as a litmus test for emerging contenders at 125 pounds, having faced Tatsuro Taira, Joshua Van, and Manel Kape in his last three outings. He appears to be the logical next step for Kavanagh.
Kavanagh looked a cut above the four opponents he faced during his sting competing in the Cage Warriors flyweight division between 2022 and 2024, and given how he has responded to that defeat against Charles Johnson at UFC Shanghai last August, it would appear that the Great Britain Top Team prospect may be edging closer to becoming a viable contender in the UFC’s stacked flyweight division.
