The MMA promotion will take place this Saturday in the country’s capital, Mexico City. Just days before the card, the Mexican army staged an operation in the nearby state of Jalisco, which led to the death of ‘El Mencho’, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the mastermind behind the dangerous Jalisco New Generation Cartel (JNGC).
After the operation, which also killed 25 members of the Mexican National Guard, the cartel responded by setting fire to cars and blocking streets in the region. The chaos has affected the travel plans of large numbers of foreign visitors, including many Americans.
Despite this, the UFC is confident that the event in Mexico City can still take place safely.
The UFC Mexico event will go ahead as planned
Speak with TMZa UFC official stated that the event is “currently proceeding as planned.”
That makes sense, since the cartel’s response to El Mencho’s death has yet to reach Mexico City. That’s what Mexican MMA reporter Rodrigo Del Campo González says.
Spoke to several sources this morning and so far there are no plans to move or cancel the UFC event in Mexico City. They are monitoring the situation, but nothing has happened in or around Mexico City. UFC personnel have been on the ground since last weekend. 1/2
— Rodrigo Del Campo González (@RodDelCampo) February 23, 2026
“I spoke with several sources this morning and so far there are no plans to move or cancel the UFC event in Mexico City,” he reported. “They are monitoring the situation, but nothing has happened in or around Mexico City. UFC personnel have been on site since last weekend.”
Gonzáles added that moving the map to US territory is not practical. That’s because many fighters on the bill would have to work out different visa situations to enter the US.
“One problem with rescheduling the event would be US work visas with several Latin American fighters on the card. It’s not easy to just fly everyone to Vegas and keep them there,” he said.
If it goes ahead, UFC Mexico will headline a flyweight fight between former champion Brandon Moreno and potential Lone’er Kavanagh.
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