MMA News

Tag: UFC Mexico

  • “Said This Kid Would
” – Lone’er Kavanagh Upsets Brandon Moreno

    “Said This Kid Would
” – Lone’er Kavanagh Upsets Brandon Moreno

    Flyweight division, beware: Lone’er Kavanagh is now in the mix of the flyweight title picture following his upset victory over Brandon Moreno in the main event of UFC Mexico.

    The two looked to get on a quick start at the beginning of the fight, with Kavanagh looking to bring speed and volume in his striking, including his jabs and leg kicks. Moreno reached on a number of his strikes, resulting in Kavanagh tagging him with counterstrikes.

    Kavanagh landed a combination late in the second round that wobbled Moreno. Kavanagh stayed patient but kept pressure, and while Moreno fought back and survived, Kavanagh solidified himself as firmly in control.

    Moreno started to swing with the left hook, attempting to take momentum from a tired Kavanagh. About halfway through the third round, Moreno got a hold of Kavanagh, controlling him throughout the remainder of the round — a strategy that continued in the fourth. Moreno landed small shots inside the clinch, attempting to drain Kavanagh more.

    Lone’er Kavanagh Gets Decision Over Brandon Moreno At UFC Mexico

    Kavanagh, however, was remaining in the fight, stopping all six of Moreno’s takedown attempts through the first 20 minutes. He continued to fight smartly, with his leg kicks doing damage. Moreno was noticeably limping during the fourth round.

    Moreno continued to try and continue to clinch up and control the pace in the fifth round, but it wasn’t enough, as Kavanagh took the decision.

    Kavanagh, who took this fight with just under a month’s notice, rebounds from his loss to Charles Johnson at UFC Shanghai in August — the first loss of his professional MMA career. Prior to that, Kavanagh earned a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series and scored wins over Jose Ochoa and Felipe dos Santos.

    Moreno has now lost four of his last six since dropping the UFC flyweight title to Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 290. He entered this fight off getting finished for the first time in his career when he lost to Tatsuro Taira at UFC 323.

  • “No Sense of Urgency” – Marlon Vera’s Skid Continues At UFC Mexico

    “No Sense of Urgency” – Marlon Vera’s Skid Continues At UFC Mexico

    David Martinez has made a statement that he is a true bantamweight contender, and the future of Marlon “Chito” Vera might be uncertain, as Martinez scored the win in their UFC Mexico co-main event bout.

    Martinez got off to a strong start, working over Vera with his striking on the front foot and making Vera miss. Vera brought the fight to the ground, but Martinez stayed in control of the fight.

    Vera looked to build momentum again early in the second round, but Martinez kept distance and used his speed to land and cut Vera off. Martinez landed a pair of solid punches midway through the round, and while Martinez ate a head kick from “Chito,” he stayed on his feet and scored a sweep to control the action on the ground again.

    Vera looked to land power in the third round, but Martinez’s speed proved to be the difference again. Vera landed a pair of strong left hands in the closing seconds, but it wasn’t enough.

    David Martinez Defeats Marlon Vera At UFC Mexico

    Martinez extends his win streak to 10 and is now 3-0 in the UFC since coming in from Dana White’s Contender Series. Martinez entered tonight’s bout with a finish of Saimon Oliveira and a decision win over Rob Font.

    Vera has now lost four straight and five of his last six, with defeats to the likes of Sean O’Malley, Deiveson Figueiredo, Cory Sandhagen, and Aiemann Zahabi.

  • “Wanted To See A Dead Body” – Ref Under Fire In King Green Win

    “Wanted To See A Dead Body” – Ref Under Fire In King Green Win

    Herb Dean has irked ire from many MMA fans for decisions and stoppages over the last several years, and another such controversy — a late stoppage — occurred during King Green’s victory over Daniel Zellhuber at UFC Mexico.

    Green showed slick movement for a fighter of his age, 39, as he slipped away from Zellhuber’s striking, pelting him with jabs and counterpunches. Zellhuber looked to steal momentum back with a tight buggy choke attempt in the second round, but Green survived and worked his way out of it.

    Late in round two, Green clocked Zellhuber with a combination, continuing to throw a barrage of shots as Zellhuber collapsed to the mat, seemingly unconscious.

    Referee Herb Dean, however, gave what has universally been considered excessive attempts, making Zellhuber take unnecessary damage before the stoppage.

    Herb Dean Takes Heat For Late Stoppage As King Green Defeats Daniel Zellhuber At UFC Mexico City

    The 39-year-old Green has now won three of his last five. He entered tonight off a split decision win over Lance Gibson Jr. Green’s losses in this span came against notable names Paddy Pimblett and Mauricio Ruffy.

    Zellhuber has now lost three straight, coming in off losses to Michael Johnson and Esteban Ribovics.

  • “Top-Notch Prospect” – Imanol Rodriguez Gets Comeback TKO

    “Top-Notch Prospect” – Imanol Rodriguez Gets Comeback TKO

    Imanol Rodriguez continued his finish streak as he made a statement in his UFC debut, earning a stoppage win over Kevin Borjas at UFC Mexico.

    Rodriguez tried to get things started with low kicks and working his left hand. But Borjas pulled off a stunner by landing a counter left that wobbled Rodriguez, putting him on the ropes and on the back foot. Borjas looked to finish the fight, landing a number of knees in close, but Rodriguez gained back some control with a takedown.

    After some chatter between the two to end round one, Rodriguez began to take over in the second round, overwhelming Borjas with his pressure. Rodriguez landed a left hand that seemed to wobble Borjas. Borjas attempted to fight back, but a right hook caused a delayed drop on Borjas, leading to a TKO win for Rodriguez.

    Imanol Rodriguez Finishes Kevin Borjas At UFC Mexico

    Rodriguez improves to 7-0. He competed on the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter, losing to Joseph Morales via a controversial decision in the flyweight semifinals. Rodriguez rebounded and earned a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, scoring a knockout of Roque Conceição.

    Borjas has now lost four of his last five, including a loss to current flyweight champion Joshua Van.

  • VIDEO: Ryan Gandra Runs Through Jose Medina At UFC Mexico

    VIDEO: Ryan Gandra Runs Through Jose Medina At UFC Mexico

    Another up-and-coming fighter earned a highlight performance in his UFC debut at UFC Mexico, as Ryan Gandra had an easy night at the office against Jose Medina.

    Gandra came out firing with strikes from the opening minute, using his pressure to back Medina up toward the fence.

    Gandra landed a flurry that did damage and brought Medina down forward, prompting a referee stoppage less than a minute into the bout.

    Ryan Gandra Blasts Jose Medina Into TKO At UFC Mexico

    Gandra improves to 9-1 and has won eight straight. He won a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series last season, scoring a first-round finish of Trent Miller.

    Medina has now lost five straight, including a loss to Magomed Gadzhiyasulov that saw White still give Medina a contract.

  • “Building Lore for Bantamweight” – Ailin Perez Extends Win Streak

    “Building Lore for Bantamweight” – Ailin Perez Extends Win Streak

    In a top-10 women’s bantamweight contenders’ battle, Ailin Perez extended her win streak by scoring a victory over Macy Chiasson at UFC Mexico.

    Perez scored a takedown in the fight’s opening minute, but Chiasson controlled the action on the mat, looking to lock up a leg lock and a choke while maintaining top position. Perez would get another takedown before the round’s end but didn’t have enough time to do major damage.

    Perez scored another takedown during round two and fared better on top. The referee, however, elected a controversial stand up, which would result in Chiasson gaining control with her strikes in the clinch. Perez answered back with another pair of takedowns in the later stage of the round.

    Perez worked over Chiasson well with her grappling again in the third round, going on to score the decision.

    Ailin Perez Scores Decision Over Macy Chiasson At UFC Mexico

    Perez, who entered this fight ranked No. 7, has now won six in a row since dropping her UFC debut. Only Natalia Silva and Maycee Barber have bigger active win streaks among UFC female athletes.

    Chiasson has now lost three straight.

  • “Chaos!” – Javier Reyes Scores Buzzer-Beater TKO At UFC Mexico

    “Chaos!” – Javier Reyes Scores Buzzer-Beater TKO At UFC Mexico

    In a chaotic back-and-forth brawl, Javier Reyes survived early danger to score a dramatic late stoppage over Douglas Silva de Andrade at UFC Mexico.

    Silva de Andrade hurt Reyes first with some crushing hooks, nearly finishing the fight there. But Reyes roared back and connected with a right hand to score a knockdown and change the fight’s trajectory.

    Reyes landed some crushing ground-and-pound during the final minute of round one, and that offense went unanswered from Silva de Andrade. Referee Herb Dean stopped the fight with a second remaining in the first round in Reyes’ favor.

    Javier Reyes Comes Back To Stop Douglas Silva de Andrade At UFC Mexico

    This marked the UFC debut of Reyes following his finish of Justice Torres on Dana White’s Contender Series. Reyes has now won three in a row.

    This is now Silva de Andrade’s third loss in his last four fights.

  • “A Washing” – Francis Marshall Runs Through Erik Silva

    “A Washing” – Francis Marshall Runs Through Erik Silva

    Francis Marshall impressed in his latest UFC outing and hopes it’s the start of consistent upward momentum, as he quickly put away Erik Silva at UFC Mexico.

    Things looked scary for Marshall early, as a wheel kick from Silva in the fight’s opening minute saw him barely get his guard up. Marshall, however, put his grappling into motion and took over the fight’s control from there.

    Marshall scored a takedown, but Silva threatened a guillotine. Marshall, however, easily got out of it and worked his way into full mount. From there, Marshall got to Silva’s back and locked in a rear-naked choke to score the submission in just half a round.

    Francis Marshall Submits Erik Silva at UFC Mexico

    Marshall is 3-3 in the Octagon since winning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022. He came into this fight off a highly controversial split decision loss to Mairon Santos at UFC 313.

    Silva falls to 9-4 overall, and he is now 0-3 in the Octagon since his own DWCS win in 2022.

  • “Damian Pinas is a Problem” – Pinas Quickly Puts Away Wes Schultz

    “Damian Pinas is a Problem” – Pinas Quickly Puts Away Wes Schultz

    Some felt that Damian Pinas would prove to be dominant in his UFC debut, and that proved to be true with a first-round finish of Wes Schultz that kicked off the UFC Mexico card.

    Pinas came out firing from the opening minute, punishing Schultz with a series of leg kicks and working him over well with his boxing. After stuffing an early takedown attempt from Schultz, Pinas dropped him with a right hand, following up with some brutal ground-and-pound.

    Back on the feet, Schultz continued to have no answer for Pinas. A solid one-two dropped Schultz and put the fight away.

    Damian Pinas Quickly Stops Wes Schultz At UFC Mexico

    “The Baby Yaga” improves to 9-1. This marked his UFC debut after a similar quick finish over Vitor Costa on Dana White’s Contender Series this past fall.

    Schultz also made his UFC debut in this fight. He, too, earned a contract on DWCS last season, submitting Mario Mingaj with the rare Suloev Stretch.

  • UFC Mexico: Moreno vs. Kavanagh Results & Highlights

    UFC Mexico: Moreno vs. Kavanagh Results & Highlights

    UFC Mexico results and highlights are updated live as the action unfolds from Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico. The UFC returns to the arena for an annual visit a year after its last touchdown. The main event will feature a flyweight battle between former two-time champion Brandon Moreno and Lone’er Kavanagh. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Brandon Moreno vs. Lone’er Kavanagh – Flyweight Main Event

    Moreno enters this fight off a TKO loss to Tatsuro Taira at UFC 323 in December, a fight that marked Moreno getting finished for the first time in his career. Moreno has hit a bit of a rough skid since dropping the flyweight title to Alexandre Pantoja, going 2-3 since. The span has seen him earn decision wins over Steve Erceg and Amir Albazi but drop a split decision to Brandon Royval, in addition to his losses to Pantoja and Taira.

    Kavanagh took this fight on short notice earlier this month, filling in for an injured Asu Almabayev. Kavanagh earned a UFC contract with a knockout of An Tuan Ho on Dana White’s Contender Series. He started his UFC run with wins over Jose Ochoa and Felipe dos Santos but was knocked out by Charles Johnson at UFC Shanghai in August, marking the first loss of Kavanagh’s career.

    The co-main event will see Marlon “Chito” Vera taking on David Martinez. Vera enters on a three-fight losing streak and losses in four of his last five, most recently dropping a decision to Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Vancouver in October. Martinez is 13-1 and on a nine-fight win streak. After a 2024 appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series, Martinez’s 2025 saw him finish Saimon Oliveira and score a decision over Rob Font.

    If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from UFC Mexico!

    How to Watch UFC Mexico

    • Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026
    • Venue: Arena CMDX, Mexico City, Mexico
    • Streaming: Paramount+ (exclusive)
    • Prelims: 5 PM ET / 2 PM PT
    • Main Card: 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT

    UFC Mexico Quick Results

    • Main Event: Brandon Moreno vs. Lone’er Kavanagh — Lone’er Kavanagh def. Brandon Moreno via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47 x2)
    • Co-Main Event: Marlon Vera vs. David Martinez — David Martinez def. Marlon Vera via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
    • Daniel Zellhuber vs. King Green — King Green def. Daniel Zellhuber via TKO (Rd. 2, 4:55)
    • Edgar ChaĂ­rez vs. Felipe Bunes — Edgar Chairez def. Felipe Bunes via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
    • Imanol RodrĂ­guez vs. Kevin Borjas — Imanol Rodriguez def. Kevin Borjas via TKO (Rd. 2, 4:21)
    • Santiago Luna vs. Angel Pacheco — Santiago Luna def. Angel Pacheco via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    UFC Mexico Results & Highlights

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 5 PM ET)

    Middleweight: Damian Pinas vs. Wes Schultz

    Result: Damian Pinas def. Wes Schultz via TKO (Rd. 1, 2:30)

    Featherweight: Erik Silva vs. Francis Marshall

    Result: Francis Marshall def. Erik Silva via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 1, 2:29)

    Women’s Catchweight (130 lbs.): Regina Tarin vs. Ernesta Kareckaite

    Result: Regina Tarin def. Ernesta Kareckaite via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

    Featherweight: Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Javier Reyes

    Result: Javier Reyes def. Douglas Silva de Andrade via TKO (Rd. 1, 4:59)

    Bantamweight: Cristian Quinonez vs. Kris Moutinho

    Result: Cristian Quinonez def. Kris Moutinho via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Women’s Bantamweight: Macy Chiasson vs. Ailin Perez

    Result: Ailin Perez def. Macy Chiasson via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Middleweight: Ryan Gandra vs. Jose Daniel Medina

    Result: Ryan Gandra def. Jose Daniel Medina via TKO (Rd. 1, 0:41)

    Main Card (Paramount+, 8 PM ET)

    Bantamweight: Santiago Luna vs. Angel Pacheco

    Result: Santiago Luna def. Angel Pacheco via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Flyweight: Imanol RodrĂ­guez vs. Kevin Borjas

    Result: Imanol Rodriguez def. Kevin Borjas via TKO (Rd. 2, 4:21)

    Flyweight: Edgar Chairez vs. Felipe Bunes

    Result: Edgar Chairez def. Felipe Bunes via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

    Lightweight: Daniel Zellhuber vs. King Green

    Result: King Green def. Daniel Zellhuber via TKO (Rd. 2, 4:55)

    Bantamweight: Marlon Vera vs. David Martinez

    Result: David Martinez def. Marlon Vera via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Flyweight: Brandon Moreno vs. Lone’er Kavanagh

    Result: Lone’er Kavanagh def. Brandon Moreno via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47 x2)

  • ‘Pantoja Schools Both Again’ – Fans React As Brandon Moreno Outpoints Steve Erceg In UFC Mexico Main Event

    ‘Pantoja Schools Both Again’ – Fans React As Brandon Moreno Outpoints Steve Erceg In UFC Mexico Main Event

    Former two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno had a successful homecoming, scoring a unanimous decision win over ex-title challenger Steve Erceg in the main event of UFC Mexico.

    Moreno and Erceg felt each other out to start before the two picked up their striking pressure. The Mexican favorite landed a strong combination that forced his Australian conterpart back, testing his chin. Erceg landed decent leg kicks, but Moreno showed more power in his strikes and continuously was able to land the right hand.

    “The Assassin Baby” continued to work combinations between Erceg’s body and head as the second round began. “AstroBoy,” however, seemed to answer back by turning up his volume, trying to match Moreno’s pressure for a back-and-forth round that could have fallen either way.

    The third round was the quietest at this point, but Erceg was able to utilize his boxing and seemed to take control during the course of the round. Moreno re-started his pressure in the fourth round, however, and took over in the championship rounds, even scoring a takedown right before the final horn.

    All three judges ultimately scored the fight in favor of Brandon Moreno.

    Brandon Moreno has now won back-to-back fights, bouncing back from consecutive split-decision losses against Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval. This fight was his first UFC victory in Mexico.

    Steve Erceg, on the other hand, has now lost three straight, going back to his unsuccessful challenge of flyweight champion Pantoja last year at UFC 301.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Brandon Moreno Decisions Steve Erceg

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Brandon Moreno Decisions Steve Erceg

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, flyweights Brandon Moreno and Steve Erceg clashed. While in the co-main event, Drew Dober faced Manuel Torres in a lightweight matchup. 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Brandon Moreno def. Steve Erceg via unanimous decision (49-46×3)
    • Manuel Torres def. Drew Dober via TKO: R1, 1.45
    • Edgar Chairez def. CJ Vergara via submission: R1, 2.30 
    • Raul Rosas Jr. def. Vince Morales via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • David Martinez def. Saimon Oliveira via TKO: R1, 0.22
    • Kevin Borjas def. Ronaldo Rodriguez via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)

    Preliminary Card

    • Ateba Gautier def. Jose Daniel Medina via KO: R1, 3.32  
    • Melquizael Costa def. Christian Rodriguez via unanimous decision (29-28×3) 
    • Loopy Godinez def. Julia Polastri via unanimous decision (29-28×3) 
    • Rafa Garcia def. Vinc Pichel via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
    • Jamall Emmers def. Gabriel Miranda via TKO: R1, 4.06
    • MarQuel Mederos def. Austin Hubbard via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Jamall Emmers def. Gabriel Miranda

    Jamall Emmers earned a first-round TKO of Gabriel Miranda in their featherweight bout.

    Ateba Gautier def. Jose Daniel Medina

    Ateba Gautier got it done in the first round with a KO of Jose Daniel Medina.

    Main Card Highlights

    Kevin Borjas def. Ronaldo Rodriguez

    Kevin Borjas got it done on the scorecards against Ronaldo Rodriguez.

    David Martinez def. Saimon Oliveira

    David Martinez took just 22 seconds to TKO Saimon Oliveira in their bantamweight fight.

    Raul Rosas Jr. def. Vince Morales

    Raul Rosas Jr. earned a unanimous decision win against Vince Morales.

    Edgar Chairez def. CJ Vergara  

    Edgar Chairez submitted CJ Vergara in the first round of their flyweight bout.

    Manuel Torres def. Drew Dober

    In the co-main event, Manuel Torres stopped Drew Dober in the first round.

    Brandon Moreno def. Steve Erceg

    In the main event, Brandon Moreno defeated Steve Erceg on the scorecards.

  • ‘Waiting For The Autopsy’ – Referee Slammed As Drew Dober Eats 15 Unanswered Shots In TKO Loss At UFC Mexico

    ‘Waiting For The Autopsy’ – Referee Slammed As Drew Dober Eats 15 Unanswered Shots In TKO Loss At UFC Mexico

    In perhaps the biggest fight of his career to date, competing in a co-main event slot in front of his compatriots, Manuel Torres came out on top at UFC Mexico. He needed just one round to dispose of formerly ranked lightweight contender Drew Dober.

    Less than two minutes into the fight, Torres landed a jab before following up with a right hand that floored Dober. The Mexican then followed it up with heavy ground-and-pound.

    Referee Mike Beltran allowed the fight to continue on despite the cries from the commentary team that the fight was over. The veteran official finally stepped in after 15 unanswered shots.

    Dober, holding onto Torres’ leg, stood up believing the fight was still going. The American was left bewildered by Beltran’s decision, while others criticized the referee for jumping in too late after Dober was already out of it.

    https://twitter.com/full_send_mma/status/1906152214235885798

    Torres has won four of five since arriving to the UFC from his 2021 appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series. He bounces back from a loss against Ignacio Bahamondes.

    Dober, meanwhile, has now lost three of his last four following UFC Mexico.

  • ‘Almost No Chiwiwis’ – Fans React As Raul Rosas Jr. Survives Tight Submissions To Earn UFC Mexico Win

    ‘Almost No Chiwiwis’ – Fans React As Raul Rosas Jr. Survives Tight Submissions To Earn UFC Mexico Win

    Raul Rosas Jr. had to survive a number of submission attempts but ended up scoring a unanimous decision win over Vince Morales at UFC Mexico.

    Rosas started the fight by targeting the midsection before landing a flurry of punches near the fence. This allowed the 20-year-old to scoop Morales up and score a takedown, landing in side control. “Vandetta,” however, did a fair job in being able to work his way from the bottom before getting on top in the round’s final minute, looking for chokes more than once along the way. Morales even looked to have one locked up before Rosas was saved by the bell.

    The two had plenty of striking exchanges on the ground in the second round. The story of that five-minute frame, however, was Rosas holding about three minutes of control. The fight quickly went to the ground in the third, and Morales nearly locked up a Peruvian Necktie again before transitioning into a D’Arce choke.

    Rosas was able to work his way out, however, and got on top, eventually working his way to Morales’ back. Despite being the one on the bottom, Morales was able to lock up another Peruvian Necktie before the final bell, with Rosas surviving.

    Raul Rosas Jr. took the win with 29-28 totals on all three judges’ scorecards.

    Raul Rosas Jr. has won four straight and is 5-1 in the UFC since his appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series as a 17-year-old in 2022.

    Vince Morales, meanwhile, is now 0-3 in the UFC.

  • Cameroonian Fighter Dubbed The ‘Middleweight Ngannou’ Impresses Fans With Emphatic UFC Mexico Debut

    Cameroonian Fighter Dubbed The ‘Middleweight Ngannou’ Impresses Fans With Emphatic UFC Mexico Debut

    Known as “The Silent Assassin,” and dubbed the “middleweight Francis Ngannou,” Ateba Gautier seemed to impress in his official UFC debut, dropping and finishing Jose Medina in the featured preliminary bout at UFC Mexico.

    Gautier showed his punching power almost right away, getting the better hand in exchanges with Medina. The Cameroonian prospect landed a strong kick and follow-up strikes, but Medina ate them all and grinned. The Bolivian tried to fire back with his own power, but Gautier turned up the pressure.

    “The Silent Assassin” finished things in the first round by landing a flurry of shots before dropping Medina with a solid knee.

    Gautier earned a UFC contract this past fall on Dana White’s Contender Series, where he scored a victory over Yura Naito.

    Medina, meanwhile, is now 0-2 in the Octagon after UFC Mexico. He also lost to Zach Reese in August following a defeat in his own 2023 appearance on DWCS.

  • Watch UFC Fighter’s Cornermen Square Up Moments After KO Win At UFC Mexico

    Watch UFC Fighter’s Cornermen Square Up Moments After KO Win At UFC Mexico

    Jamall Emmers got the win in his outing at UFC Mexico, but it looked as if his own corner was going to have another fight not long after.

    Emmers, who was taking on Gabriel Miranda as part of the UFC Mexico preliminary card, found himself in a bit of trouble early on. The two traded furiously, but Miranda was able to score a takedown and looked to grab a rear-naked choke. Upon escape from Miranda’s clutches, however, the American was able to rock and drop him with an overhand right.

    Emmers let him back to the feet, but he wobbled the Brazilian again with an elbow before a brutal knee and a hard right hand that sent Miranda crumbling to the canvas, giving Emmers a first-round knockout.

    Cameras noticed after the knockout, however, that two of Emmers’ cornermen appeared to get into a verbal altercation with one another. It’s unclear what caused the little skirmish between the two during their fighters’ victorious moment.

    Emmers has gone 4-4 in the UFC, consistently trading wins and losses during his tenure, not chaining together victories or defeats.

    Miranda, meanwhile, has now lost three of four since his 2022 UFC debut.

  • Joe Pyfer Pulls Out Of UFC Mexico Hours Before The Event

    Joe Pyfer Pulls Out Of UFC Mexico Hours Before The Event

    Tonight’s UFC Fight Night card in Mexico City will go ahead without the middleweight matchup between Joe Pyfer and Kelvin Gastelum.

    This month’s UFC 313 pay-per-view served as a reminder that no bout is good to go until the cage door closes behind both athletes, with two fights falling through just hours before the card.

    And the curse has struck again, this time in Mexico.

    After both making weight and facing off on Friday, Joe Pyfer and Kelvin Gastelum will no longer throw down inside the Octagon after the former was struck down by illness.

    The promotion announced the news Saturday, marking a sizable blow to the March 29 lineup at Arena CDMX.

    It remains to be seen whether the UFC will reschedule the matchup for a later date. It was slated to serve as Gastelum’s return to middleweight after a failed stint back at 170 pounds, which most recently saw his win over Daniel Rodriguez marred by a weight miss.

    Pyfer, meanwhile, will have to wait to continue his momentum in the division. After falling short in his maiden main event against Jack Hermansson, “Bodybagz” bounced back emphatically by knocking out Marc-AndrĂ© Barriault last July.

  • UFC Mexico Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg Card

    UFC Mexico Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg Card

    UFC Mexico is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

    The upcoming event takes place Saturday, March 29, at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. The main card begins at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno. After consecutive defeats to Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval, “The Assassin Baby” got back on track with an impressive victory over Amir Albazi last November. To return to a winning streak and place his name back in the title conversation, the Mexican must now get the better of Steve Erceg, who gave champ Pantoja a run for his money before being knocked out by Kai Kara-France in 2024.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see lightweight veteran Drew Dober back in action. The fan favorite is tasked with stalling Manuel Torres’ hopes to bounce back from a first UFC loss to Ignacio Bahamondes last time out. Before that, “El Loco” recorded three straight first-round knockouts to establish himself as one of Mexico’s top prospects.

    And also making the walk on Saturday will be the likes of Kelvin Gastelum, Joe Pyfer, Raul Rosas Jr., Ronaldo Rodriguez, and Loopy Godinez.

    UFC Mexico: Moreno vs. Erceg Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Mexico (as of 3/25), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Brandon Moreno (-238) vs. Steve Erceg (+195)
    • Manuel Torres (-118) vs. Drew Dober (+102)
    • Kelvin Gastelum (+245) vs. Joe Pyfer (-305)
    • Raul Rosas Jr. (-410) vs. Vince Morales (+320)
    • David Martinez (-360) vs. Saimon Oliveira (+285)
    • Ronaldo Rodriguez (-180) vs. Kevin Borjas (+150)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Edgar Chairez (-270) vs. CJ Vergara (+220)
    • Jose Medina (+320) vs. Ateba Gautier (-410)
    • Christian Rodriguez (-155) vs. Melquizael Costa (+130)
    • Loopy Godinez (-238) vs. Julia Polastri (+195)
    • Rafa Garcia (-485) vs. Vinc Pichel (+370)
    • Jamall Emmers (-325) vs. Gabriel Miranda (+260)
    • MarQuel Mederos (-192) vs. Austin Hubbard (+160)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izwT-gvhDVk
  • Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer Targeted For UFC Mexico On March 29

    Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer Targeted For UFC Mexico On March 29

    The UFC is set to return to Mexico in the first quarter of this year, and the promotion appears to be bringing a former title challenger with it in the form of Kelvin Gastelum.

    It’s been a difficult few years for Gastelum (19-9, 1 NC). After going 2-5 across a seven-fight run that started with his memorable interim championship clash with Israel Adesanya, the 33-year-old most recently experienced a failed return to welterweight.

    After being submitted by Sean Brady in late 2023, Gastelum did have his hand raised over Daniel Rodriguez. But owing to a weight miss in Saudi Arabia that left UFC CEO Dana White less than happy, his stock didn’t rise in victory.

    Unsurprisingly, the Californian looks to have once again been forced to close the book on his 170-pound plans. And he seems close to being booked for a difficult welcome back to the 185-pound class.

    Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, a clash between Gastelum and the highly touted Joe Pyfer (13-3) is in the works for the UFC Fight Night in Mexico on March 29.

    After breaking through in a big way on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022, Pyfer began Octagon life on the front foot with three straight wins.

    But after knocking out Alen Amedovski and Gerald Meerschaert and submitting Abdul Razak Alhassan, “Bodybagz” was unable to get past his toughest test to date, falling via decision to perennial contender Jack Hermansson in an Apex main event last February.

    Pyfer, however, wasn’t coming off a defeat for long. He returned to his violent ways during International Fight Week four months later by sleeping Marc-AndrĂ© Barriault. He’ll now look to return to a win streak at Gastelum’s expense.

    The addition of Gastelum vs. Pyfer would mark the third bout on the UFC Mexico lineup. Thus far, Edgar ChĂĄirez and Ronaldo RodrĂ­guez both have home country fights set, with the former facing CJ Vergara and the latter dueling Kevin Borjas.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Fights Added To Los Angeles-Held UFC 311

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming cards.

    With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, November 18, and Sunday, November 24, a number of notable fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, check out the links below:

    Plenty of lower-profile matchups also came together. For those, check out this week’s quick hits:

    But it wasn’t all positive, with two fights falling through or being adjusted. For those, see below: