The UFC’s return to Mexico appears to have been dealt a major blow.
Kicking off 2026 and the new Paramount era, the promotion aimed for a strong start with UFC 325 this past Saturday. Notably, this was the second numbered event of the year.
Things will quiet down a bit in February, with no numbered events scheduled until March 7, when Charles Oliveira takes on Max Holloway at UFC 326.
Before that, there are three Fight Nights lined up this month, set for Las Vegas, Houston and Mexico City. But the one in Arena CDMX may now be without its main event following a late withdrawal from one of the headliners.
Brandon Moreno needs a new opponent after Asu Almabayev pulls out of UFC Mexico
Brandon Moreno is set to headline the February 28 event, hoping to repeat what he did back in 2025.
Last year, in that same arena, Moreno beat Steve Erceg on the scorecards, marking his second win on the bounce.
But since then, his momentum has slowed down. He lost to Tatsuro Taira at UFC 323 in December and was hoping to kickstart his new year with a big performance. That opportunity looked set against Asu Almabayev, who has gone 6-1 since joining the UFC in 2023.
But according to Ag. Fight, Almabayev has now withdrawn from the main event.
Given how popular Moreno is locally, it would not be surprising if the promotion looks for a new opponent to keep him headlining on February 28.
Brandon Moreno still has not faced the current UFC Flyweight champion
Joshua Van’s victory over Alexandre Pantoja in December could pave a quicker route back to a title shot for Brandon Moreno.
Moreno lost the flyweight belt to Pantoja in 2023, which was already his second defeat to the Brazilian. By then, he had lost three times overall in MMA.
That record made it hard for him to get another title chance while the 35-year-old Brazilian was champion. Now that Van holds the belt, there is an opening.
Moreno’s controversial loss to Taira likely pushes ‘The Cannibal’ ahead in the title shot queue, meaning ‘The Assassin Baby’ will be rooting for the new flyweight king to retain the belt.
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