Lone'er Kavanagh

3-1
Record
Age / DOB 26
(Jun 09, 1999)
Height 5' 4"
Weight 125 lbs.
Reach 67.0"
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages
4.13 Sig. Strikes / Min
48.0% Sig. Strike Acc.
3.49 Absorbed / Min
56.0% Strike Defense
1.12 TD Avg / 15 min
45.0% TD Accuracy
94.0% TD Defense
0.2 Sub. / Fight
Win Methods (3)
KO/TKO 0
Submission 0
Decision 3
Loss Methods (1)
KO/TKO 1
Submission 0
Decision 0

Fight History

Result / Opponent
Event & Date
Method/Round
Links
Comments
SCHEDULED
UFC 329
Jul 11, 2026
Compare odds
--
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Brandon Moreno 0 79 of 168 47% 134 of 229 0 of 8 0% 0 0 7:20
Lone'er Kavanagh 0 97 of 205 47% 136 of 245 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Brandon Moreno 0 19 of 40 47% 19 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Lone'er Kavanagh 0 18 of 45 40% 18 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Brandon Moreno 0 24 of 54 44% 24 of 54 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Lone'er Kavanagh 0 42 of 83 50% 42 of 83 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Brandon Moreno 0 16 of 40 40% 31 of 56 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:21
Lone'er Kavanagh 0 17 of 44 38% 20 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
4 Brandon Moreno 0 9 of 15 60% 31 of 42 0 of 2 0% 0 0 3:08
Lone'er Kavanagh 0 8 of 14 57% 29 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
5 Brandon Moreno 0 11 of 19 57% 29 of 37 0 of 2 0% 0 0 2:51
Lone'er Kavanagh 0 12 of 19 63% 27 of 35 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Brandon Moreno 79 of 168 47% 51 of 133 15 of 21 13 of 14 69 of 154 10 of 14 0 of 0
Lone'er Kavanagh 97 of 205 47% 60 of 160 18 of 24 19 of 21 92 of 198 5 of 7 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Brandon Moreno 19 of 40 47% 14 of 34 3 of 4 2 of 2 19 of 40 0 of 0 0 of 0
Lone'er Kavanagh 18 of 45 40% 10 of 33 3 of 7 5 of 5 18 of 45 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Brandon Moreno 24 of 54 44% 13 of 40 6 of 9 5 of 5 23 of 53 1 of 1 0 of 0
Lone'er Kavanagh 42 of 83 50% 30 of 70 5 of 6 7 of 7 39 of 78 3 of 5 0 of 0
3 Brandon Moreno 16 of 40 40% 13 of 35 2 of 4 1 of 1 16 of 39 0 of 1 0 of 0
Lone'er Kavanagh 17 of 44 38% 11 of 37 5 of 5 1 of 2 17 of 44 0 of 0 0 of 0
4 Brandon Moreno 9 of 15 60% 5 of 10 1 of 1 3 of 4 5 of 8 4 of 7 0 of 0
Lone'er Kavanagh 8 of 14 57% 4 of 8 1 of 2 3 of 4 7 of 13 1 of 1 0 of 0
5 Brandon Moreno 11 of 19 57% 6 of 14 3 of 3 2 of 2 6 of 14 5 of 5 0 of 0
Lone'er Kavanagh 12 of 19 63% 5 of 12 4 of 4 3 of 3 11 of 18 1 of 1 0 of 0
Expert Picks (11)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Brandon Moreno

Angelo hesitantly picks Brandon Moreno, acknowledging that Lone'er Kavanagh is fast and accurate and could give Moreno trouble early. He notes Moreno's five-round experience and toughness as key advantages, expecting him to outlast Kavanagh who may fade. He admits if it were a three-round fight with a full camp, he would pick Kavanagh.

Says he wouldn't be comfortable parlaying Moreno at almost three to one.
"I'm going to pick Moreno. I think he can just literally outlast Loner. But if this was a three round fight with a full fight camp, I'd be picking Loner Kavanaaugh right now."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Brandon Moreno

Big Brady picks Brandon Moreno, citing his hometown advantage, experience as a former champion, and step down in competition. He notes Kavanagh looked good in the first round against Charles Johnson but faded and got knocked out. Brady believes Moreno's cardio, pressure, and minute-winning ability will lead to a decision win, possibly a late finish if Kavanagh slows down.

decision
"Give me Brandon Moreno to win this fight and win it by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Feb 25, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Brandon Moreno

Cody points out Moreno's recent stylistic changes, lack of wrestling, and potential decline. He highlights Kavanagh's speed and power, and the danger of an early knockout. Despite these concerns, he picks Moreno due to the difficulty of betting against him, but strongly advises live betting or hedging.

"I will take Mareno just where whereas the narrative seems to be it's all Moreno and this is an easy fight... I think that there's some very real danger."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 26, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Brandon Moreno

Connor agrees with Zane that Moreno should win, but he is slightly less confident due to Moreno's recent inconsistent performances. He notes that Moreno sometimes makes weird mistakes and that Kavanagh is a dangerous counterpuncher with speed and accuracy. However, Connor ultimately believes Moreno's experience and ability to pressure will be too much for Kavanagh, especially given Kavanagh's stamina concerns.

Kavanagh's counterpunching threat; Moreno's occasional weird mistakes; altitude factor
"I am forced to agree."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Feb 20, 2024 (739 days before fight)
Brandon Moreno

Daniel picks Brandon Moreno to win, citing his well-rounded skills and fight IQ. He notes Moreno's takedown advantage against Royval's poor takedown defense, but acknowledges Royval's danger on the feet with unorthodox strikes. He expects Moreno to exploit takedown defense and control the fight on the ground, though he warns that Moreno has been dropped in recent fights.

"I think Brandon Moreno should get this one done too well-rounded and especially if he comes out here smart exploits that takedown defense of royval"
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2026 (fight day)
Brandon Moreno

The host is betting on Moreno despite his decline, because the circumstances heavily favor him. Moreno has experience fighting in Mexico City, excellent cardio, and has never been knocked out. Kavanagh is inexperienced (10 pro fights), a volume striker with no knockout power, and is fighting on short notice at high altitude. The host believes Kavanagh would need to finish Moreno or win a clear decision, both unlikely. He plans to parlay Moreno with Zellhuber.

Parlaying him with Daniel Zellhuber.
"I am happy to bet Moreno at big favorite odds here. He is on a decline. There's no doubt about it. But the probability of Kavanaaugh going to Mexico City on short notice with only 10 pro fights and getting three judges to give him three out of five rounds... it's just so unlikely."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

James believes Kavanagh is one of the best flyweights despite his loss to Charles Johnson, citing his speed, footwork, and counter-striking. He questions Moreno's consistency and recent performance, noting Moreno's age and potential decline. James sees value in Kavanagh at +210 odds, predicting Moreno may not push the pace needed to exploit Kavanagh's cardio concerns.

"I'm going to say that Lona Kavanaaugh is the value side here. I'm going to say Lona Cavanar is the winner of this fight."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 24, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Brandon Moreno

The host picks Brandon Moreno inside the distance, expecting a round 4 or 5 finish. He notes Moreno's experience, cardio, and durability, and believes Kavanagh will fade in the later rounds due to altitude and short notice. He is surprised the line moved to -225 and considers it a great value. He predicts a late TKO or submission.

"Give me Brandon Moreno uh round four or five, TKO, maybe even submission."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 25, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Brandon Moreno

Paul acknowledges Moreno's experience and cardio advantage, especially at altitude. He notes Moreno's wrestling and submission game are superior, and expects Moreno to take over in later rounds. He is puzzled by the money coming in on Kavanagh and recommends Moreno as a parlay piece, but suggests live betting for better value.

"I think Moreno's got the better wrestling and he's got the better submission game, and I think he's got the better cardio."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2026 (fight day)
Brandon Moreno

The MMA Guru picks Brandon Moreno, noting that Lone'er Kavanagh has a cardio issue and gasses after about 7 minutes. He argues that Moreno is hard to finish early and that Kavanagh's only path to victory is a first-round TKO, which is unlikely at Mexico City altitude. He predicts a late-rounds TKO for Moreno, possibly in rounds 4 or 5.

round four or five TKO
"I'm going to go with Brandon Moreno round four or five TKO."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 26, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Brandon Moreno

Zane picks Moreno because Kavanagh is not ready for this level of competition, especially on short notice and at altitude. He notes that Kavanagh's gas tank was a problem against Charles Johnson, and Moreno's experience and ability to set a comfortable tempo will likely overwhelm him. Zane also mentions that Moreno has a reach advantage and is fighting at home, which should help him make better decisions.

Kavanagh's gas tank issues at altitude; Moreno's reach advantage; Kavanagh on three weeks notice; first five-round fight for Kavanagh
"I have to pick Moreno. It's an opportunity for Kavanaugh. Like, I get why both men took this fight."
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Charles Johnson 1 44 of 81 54% 52 of 89 1 of 5 20% 0 0 0:32
Lone'er Kavanagh 0 59 of 120 49% 60 of 121 1 of 2 50% 1 1 0:59
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Charles Johnson 0 14 of 25 56% 14 of 25 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:10
Lone'er Kavanagh 0 36 of 65 55% 37 of 66 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Charles Johnson 1 30 of 56 53% 38 of 64 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:22
Lone'er Kavanagh 0 23 of 55 41% 23 of 55 1 of 2 50% 1 1 0:59
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Charles Johnson 44 of 81 54% 18 of 49 6 of 10 20 of 22 37 of 71 4 of 6 3 of 4
Lone'er Kavanagh 59 of 120 49% 32 of 83 21 of 26 6 of 11 53 of 111 6 of 9 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Charles Johnson 14 of 25 56% 3 of 11 2 of 4 9 of 10 14 of 24 0 of 1 0 of 0
Lone'er Kavanagh 36 of 65 55% 17 of 37 14 of 18 5 of 10 34 of 63 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Charles Johnson 30 of 56 53% 15 of 38 4 of 6 11 of 12 23 of 47 4 of 5 3 of 4
Lone'er Kavanagh 23 of 55 41% 15 of 46 7 of 8 1 of 1 19 of 48 4 of 7 0 of 0
Expert Picks (4)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Aug 17, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

Angelo picks Lone'er Kavanagh but is hesitant, noting that Charles Johnson is a friend of the show and a good fighter. He praises Kavanagh's speed, power, and ability to transition to wrestling instantly. He thinks the odds are too wide and that Johnson is not a 2-to-1 underdog. He says he'll be rooting for Johnson but thinks Kavanagh probably gets it done due to speed and volume.

Odds are -200 for Kavanagh; Angelo thinks Johnson is not a 2-to-1 underdog.
"Loner Kavanaaugh is probably the pick just given all the other circumstances."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

Big Brady picks Lone'er Kavanagh to win a close decision, noting that Kavanagh is a real prospect with power and takedown ability. He criticizes Charles Johnson for consistently losing first rounds and being takedown-prone. He believes Kavanagh will win rounds one and two, while Johnson may take round three, leading to a decision for Kavanagh.

Kavanagh by decision
"I'm going Kavanaaugh to win a close decision in this one."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

The host notes that Kavanagh is usually at super chalky odds but here at -180, it's a great entry point. He thinks Johnson may not have the power to get Kavanagh's respect, and while Johnson may have an advantage in output and volume, Kavanagh should mix martial arts well with power strikes, speed, and takedowns to win on the scorecards.

odds comment: -180 is a great entry point
"We're so used to seeing Kavanaaugh at super chalky odds, but here at minus 180. I think this is a great entry point against a guy in Charles Johnson who may not have the power to get the respect from Kavanaaugh."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 22, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Charles Johnson

The MMA Guru picks Charles Johnson to win by decision as an underdog (+170). He believes Johnson's experience and ability to survive and push the pace will be key. He notes that Kavanagh struggled in close fights against Jose Ochoa and Felipe dos Santos, and that Johnson is hard to outgrapple effectively. He expects Johnson to have a strong third round and win a close decision, though he acknowledges Kavanagh could land a knockout.

Charles Johnson by decision; underdog +170
"Charles Johnson's going to get the upset win in my opinion. He's an underdog. He's plus 170."
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Lone'er Kavanagh 0 58 of 97 59% 71 of 112 4 of 6 66% 0 0 6:33
Felipe dos Santos 0 51 of 104 49% 92 of 147 0 of 3 0% 1 0 0:56
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Lone'er Kavanagh 0 11 of 23 47% 11 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:39
Felipe dos Santos 0 15 of 32 46% 23 of 40 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:43
2 Lone'er Kavanagh 0 29 of 51 56% 42 of 66 2 of 3 66% 0 0 3:36
Felipe dos Santos 0 25 of 36 69% 45 of 58 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:13
3 Lone'er Kavanagh 0 18 of 23 78% 18 of 23 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:18
Felipe dos Santos 0 11 of 36 30% 24 of 49 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Lone'er Kavanagh 58 of 97 59% 37 of 71 11 of 15 10 of 11 29 of 56 3 of 6 26 of 35
Felipe dos Santos 51 of 104 49% 28 of 67 9 of 21 14 of 16 28 of 77 4 of 4 19 of 23
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Lone'er Kavanagh 11 of 23 47% 1 of 12 2 of 3 8 of 8 10 of 19 1 of 4 0 of 0
Felipe dos Santos 15 of 32 46% 3 of 12 5 of 12 7 of 8 13 of 30 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Lone'er Kavanagh 29 of 51 56% 25 of 45 3 of 4 1 of 2 5 of 20 1 of 1 23 of 30
Felipe dos Santos 25 of 36 69% 18 of 27 3 of 4 4 of 5 8 of 16 2 of 2 15 of 18
3 Lone'er Kavanagh 18 of 23 78% 11 of 14 6 of 8 1 of 1 14 of 17 1 of 1 3 of 5
Felipe dos Santos 11 of 36 30% 7 of 28 1 of 5 3 of 3 7 of 31 0 of 0 4 of 5
Expert Picks (4)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 16, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

Angelo picks Lone'er Kavanagh, emphasizing his incredible speed and composure. He acknowledges that Kavanagh hasn't faced top competition and that Felipe's forward pressure will test him. He wants to see if Kavanagh can fight backwards and counter-strike. Ultimately, he trusts Kavanagh's speed and potential, though he admits we'll learn a lot about him in this fight.

"ultimately I'm going to pick him cuz he's just so damn fast"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 18, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

Brady likes Kavanagh's clean striking and power, and notes dos Santos has poor takedown defense and striking defense. He thinks Kavanagh can mix in takedowns if needed. Despite dos Santos being tough, Brady predicts a decision win for Kavanagh.

Kavanagh by decision
"give me lonni Kavanagh here I do think Felipe dos Santos is very tough ... so I'll say it's a lonni Kavanagh by decision win"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 20, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

The host considers Kavanagh one of the hottest UK prospects and expects him to showcase his skills. Dos Santos might make it close early, but as Kavanagh's damage piles up, he will cause dos Santos to break, leading to a late finish or decision win.

late finish or decision
"Kavanagh is one of the hottest prospects to come out of the UK in a while and I think that he'll be able to showcase those chops here against dos Santos."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 19, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

The Guru picks Lone'er Kavanagh, believing he is crisper on the feet and has good grappling instincts. He notes that Kavanagh is compact and beats opponents to the punch, while dos Santos has been in many scraps and may be more damaged. He expects a TKO in the second or third round, as Kavanagh's pressure and body work will wear down dos Santos.

TKO round 2 or 3
"I'm gonna go with Lona kavana over Felipe dos Santos I think Lona kavar would smoke Victor Al Morana"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Lone'er Kavanagh 0 51 of 126 40% 51 of 126 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Jose Ochoa 0 50 of 158 31% 59 of 168 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:36
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Lone'er Kavanagh 0 21 of 45 46% 21 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jose Ochoa 0 19 of 44 43% 19 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Lone'er Kavanagh 0 18 of 46 39% 18 of 46 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Jose Ochoa 0 20 of 60 33% 29 of 70 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:33
3 Lone'er Kavanagh 0 12 of 35 34% 12 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jose Ochoa 0 11 of 54 20% 11 of 54 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Lone'er Kavanagh 51 of 126 40% 24 of 74 12 of 28 15 of 24 50 of 124 1 of 2 0 of 0
Jose Ochoa 50 of 158 31% 13 of 78 13 of 40 24 of 40 49 of 156 1 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Lone'er Kavanagh 21 of 45 46% 6 of 21 4 of 10 11 of 14 21 of 45 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jose Ochoa 19 of 44 43% 3 of 19 2 of 6 14 of 19 19 of 44 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Lone'er Kavanagh 18 of 46 39% 9 of 28 7 of 11 2 of 7 17 of 45 1 of 1 0 of 0
Jose Ochoa 20 of 60 33% 7 of 29 6 of 20 7 of 11 19 of 58 1 of 2 0 of 0
3 Lone'er Kavanagh 12 of 35 34% 9 of 25 1 of 7 2 of 3 12 of 34 0 of 1 0 of 0
Jose Ochoa 11 of 54 20% 3 of 30 5 of 14 3 of 10 11 of 54 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Lone'er Kavanagh vs. Jose Ochoa

Round 1
A pair of unbeaten newcomers with seven wins apiece meet in hopes of keeping their spotless records intact. The prospects of Kavanagh (7-0, 0-0 UFC) are high, with many calling for him to get a call up to the big leagues after wiping out Davide Scarano with a spinning back kick in 2023. It took a bit longer than he expected, but he made it, and he meets Ochoa (7-0, 1 NC; 0-0 UFC). While the Brit has heard the final bell in the past, Ochoa has never even fought into the third round. Referee Mark Craig will have his hands full with these flyweights for as long as it goes. They share a sporting glove touch to get started, and Kavanagh strikes first with a low kick. Kavanagh parries the jabs Ochoa is setting up, ignoring a stomping kick to his knees so he can work his way in. Kavanagh has to hop back to block a head kick, and he presses forward with a push kick. Ochoa chops at the lead leg with a kick, and Kavanagh responds in kind. A head kick buzzes past Ochoa’s face in the blink of an eye, with the Peruvian looking at it with bemusement. Kavanagh chips at the front leg, and Ochoa does the same as they do not set up much else. Kavanagh nails the lead leg with a kick that makes Ochoa recoil it, and he dodges a counter right over the top when loosing a body kick. Kavanagh blocks a front kick and whiffs with a head kick, and he sees Ochoa come barreling towards him and blonks him on the head with a right hook. The Peruvian wears it well and lets fly a head kick that is blocked, with the two going tit-for-tat against one another. Ochoa connects with two leg kicks, and the crowd starts wooing as it is not entertained. Both fighters come up short on power strikes, with Kavanagh eventually reaching with a leg kick and then one to the ribs. Kavanagh closes in when Ochoa attempts a spinning back fist, and he chews up the inside and outside of Ochoa’s right leg with kicks. Ochoa goes wide with a haymaker, and Kavanagh slips the strikes and responds with a left hook that cuts Ochoa’s right eye. In a flurry of strikes, a Kavanagh kick does not find the right area and instead blasts Ochoa square in the family jewels. Ochoa walks off in pain, and Kavanagh knows what he did and apologizes. Craig calls time and tells Ochoa he has plenty of time to recover, and Ochoa is not having a good time right now. It takes over a minute for Ochoa to stand up, and he asks for a chance to wipe his bloodied eye that is cut on the lid. After 90 seconds, Ochoa is good to go, and they share a glove touch to restart. Kavanagh reintroduces himself with two more accurate leg kicks, and he allows Ochoa to kick him so he can plant a capoeira kick on his ribs. An Ochoa kick appears to go low, but Kavanagh waves it off and they trade front kicks. A clean Ochoa front kick drives Kavanagh back, and Kavanagh rushes at him swinging two hooks and a kick before the horn sounds. 10-9 Kavanagh.

Round 2
The fighters share a glove touch to get going in Round 2, with Kavanagh twirling about when not committing entirely to a leg kick. He instead aims one to the side, and he leans back when Ochoa’s feet fly past his face. Ochoa scores a Mortal Kombat-inspired sweep kick to the low leg, and Kavanagh no-sells it and responds with a head kick. Kavanagh chambers and fires a slapping leg kick, hoping to set up a high kick but Ochoa is wise to the latter. Ochoa keeps his hands dangerously low as he prods out with front kicks, and he sways back when Kavanagh kicks at him. Kavanagh scores a right hand, has a kick roll off his shoulder and prepares to fire off a counter. The right hand that comes from the Brit puts Ochoa on his seat, and Ochoa, grinning the whole time, climbs back to his feet. Ochoa attacks the front leg repeatedly, landing three or four until Kavanagh lets fly a booming body kick. Ochoa’s kicks keep his man at safe range until Kavanagh gets sick of waiting and lunges to blaze him with a right and then a huge left hook. Ochoa wants to engage, smiling all the while, and he absorbs a powerful left hand that makes him smile and bleed. Kavanagh’s poker face never changes as he unleashes kicks to the body and front leg, and Ochoa splits the distance and delivers a clean body shot. Ochoa chains and fires a few flashy strikes together that all miss, and he tries a capoeira kick that comes up short. Kavanagh stays composed and dings him with a left hook to draw more blood, and his leg kick keeps battering the front leg. Ochoa splits the guard with a front kick, and this makes Kavanagh bite down on his mouthpiece to engage. Ochoa appears to get the better of the exchange, hurting the former Cage Warriors fighter with a long series of punches. Ochoa changes the strikes to body shots, lowering Kavanagh to the floor until Kavanagh shoots desperately. The Peruvian jumps around to take the back, and he hunts for a rear-naked choke while on his foe’s back. Kavanagh leans against the fence to survive the submission, with the horn ending the round. 10-9 Ochoa.

Round 3
The fighters reach the final frame and clap hands, and it could be all tied up or Kavanagh could be ahead. No matter the score, the competitors get to business before long. Legs fly from both sides, with Ochoa picking and poking with kicks high and low, and his body kick draws a reaction out of his man. With Ochoa selling out for kicks, Kavanagh times a left hand that drops Ochoa. Kavanagh does not go wild for long, letting Ochoa have it but paying attention to when the jump knee inevitably comes at him. Ochoa gathers himself and beats on the body with kicks, and Kavanagh returns fire with two that leave mean looking welts on Ochoa’s waist. Kavanagh lunges with a left hook, and he nails the front leg with a kick. Ochoa digs a left to head and right to the body, and Kavanagh pays him back with a short but fierce combination. Ochoa tries to sweep the leg dramatically, and this time it is way short and the crowd boos him. The two crash together with offense, as Ochoa tries a head kick while too close. Kavanagh slips a huge punch to escape from harm, hand-fighting and letting loose with a head kick. Ochoa shrugs at him and belts him with a low kick. Ochoa chases Kavanagh down, walking into a jump knee as he spins with a back fist that bangs into the chest. Kavanagh strafes to the side, avoiding a hook kick and a head kick with active movement. Ochoa’s kicks miss again and again, resulting in Ochoa shrugging at him. Kavanagh wraps a head kick around the guard, and they both land with their fists. Ochoa steps in with a knee, and he gets countered with a left over the top and has a head kick graze his chin. Ochoa walks Kavanagh down without fear, kicking his way into a single-leg takedown attempt that fails. Kavanagh intercepts a kick to blast Ochoa in the face with a right hand, and he spins with a wheel kick that connects cleanly. The two fighters hug it out, and Kavanagh hits a back flip just because he can. 10-9 Kavanagh (29-28 Kavanagh).

The Official Result
Lone'er Kavanagh def. Jose Ochoa via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Expert Picks (6)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 17, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

Angelo picks Lone'er Kavanagh, emphasizing his incredible speed and raw power. He believes Kavanagh's high-level training and speed will be the difference, as Ochoa will struggle to see shots coming. He notes both are finishers and suggests an under on round lines could be a play.

under on round lines could be a sneaky good play
"his speed is the difference his High Level Training will be the difference"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 20, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

Big Brady picks Kavanagh to win by decision. He acknowledges the hype on Kavanagh from his contender series knockout but notes Jose Ochoa is dangerous with power. He believes Kavanagh has more ways to win with better tools on the feet and ground, and can mix in takedowns. He expects a back-and-forth war that goes the distance with Kavanagh getting his hand raised.

"I'll take Kavanaugh to win this fight I think it's going to be one of those back and forth Wars where it somehow ends up going the distance and I think it's Kavanagh that gets his hand raised"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 20, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

Cody picks Kavanagh confidently, calling him a top prospect with dynamic striking and grappling. He notes that Ochoa is a tough Peruvian brawler but lacks the technical skills to hang with Kavanagh. He expects Kavanagh to win by knockout, possibly early, and sees him as a top ticket play.

"I got Kavanaugh kav's probably on my top ticket for being real I think he I think he smokes him"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Nov 21, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

Daniel Vreeland praises both fighters as studs but gives the edge to Kavanagh due to being more seasoned and having fought higher-level competition. He notes that Ochoa is impressive and could be a top prospect soon, but Kavanagh's experience and maturity make him the pick. However, he mentions he would bet on Ochoa as an underdog due to the value.

"pure pick I'll take Lan Kavanagh because of the experience the maturity all that but if I'm gonna bet this fight I'm Gonna Roll the Dice on this kid Ooa at plus 290 plus 300"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 20, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

Paul agrees, noting Kavanagh's footwork and power are on another level. He acknowledges Ochoa's toughness but thinks Kavanagh's technique will be too much. He expects a dominant performance and is comfortable laying the chalk.

"I'm glad it's early because if I'm going to lose my shirt it may be rebuild"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 21, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

The MMA Guru is high on Lone'er Kavanagh, describing him as a savage with nasty combos and highlight-reel finishes. He notes Kavanagh has faced tougher competition, with his last three opponents having a combined record of 16-0. He believes Kavanagh's power at flyweight and good takedown defense will be key, and predicts a TKO win in round one or two. He thinks it would take a gritty veteran to beat Kavanagh.

TKO early, round one or two
"I'm going Lo Lona kavar getting this one done by TKO early in the fight I'll say round one or two"