Brandon Moreno-Asu Almabayev to headline UFC’s Mexico City return

The main event for UFC’s return to Mexico City on Feb. 28 will feature a matchup between flyweight contenders Brandon Moreno and Asu Almabayev.

Tijuana’s Moreno (29-3-2) will enter as the No. 5-ranked contender as he fights in his home country against the seventh-ranked Almabayev (23-3) from Kazakhstan. The 32-year-old Moreno is coming off a second-round stoppage loss to Japan’s Tatsuro Taira at UFC 323 last month, which followed unanimous decision wins over Steve Erceg and Amir Albazi.

A rising contender known for his submissions, the 31-year-old Almabayev is seeking a statement win after scoring victories over Alex Perez, Jose Ochoa and Matheus Nicolau.

The co-main event will see a pair of women’s bantamweights step into the Octagon, with No. 7-ranked Macy Chiasson facing No. 8 Ailin Perez.

Chiasson (11-5) won season 28 of “The Ultimate Fighter” as a featherweight and has since scored stoppages over Mayra Bueno Silva, Pannie Kianzad and Sarah Moras, but will enter this fight with consecutive decision defeats to Yana Santos and Ketlen Vieira. She’ll be looking to end the five-fight win streak of Perez (12-2), an Argentinian coming off a unanimous decision win over Karol Rosa last January.

OTHER FIGHTS ON THE CARD

MIDDLEWEIGHT: Damian Pinas (8-1) vs. Wes Schultz (8-2)

MIDDLEWEIGHT: Ryan Gandra (8-1) vs. Jose Daniel Medina (11-6)

FLYWEIGHT: Edgar Chairez (12-6-1) vs. Felipe Bunes (14-8)

FLYWEIGHT: Imanol Rodriguez (6-0) vs. Kevin Borjas (10-4)

BANTAMWEIGHT: Santiago Luna (7-0) vs. Angel Pacheco (7-3)

BANTAMWEIGHT: Cristian Quinonez (18-5) vs. Kris Moutinho (14-7)

FLYWEIGHT: Sofia Montenegro (6-2) vs. Ernesta Kareckaite (6-1-1)

The prelims are scheduled to being at 5 p.m. ET, followed by the main card beginning at 8 p.m.

–Field Level Media