Royval steps in for Albazi, will face Moreno at UFC Mexico City

Former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno has a new opponent for his return to his home country.

Amir Albazi is out of the UFC Mexico City main event on Feb. 24 and has been replaced by former title challenger Brandon Royval, the promotion announced Thursday.

Albazi tweeted that he has been dealing with a serious neck injury for multiple weeks and that UFC doctors pulled him from the fight.

Moreno was quick to suggest he's not worried about the opponent change in an interview with ESPN Deportes' Carlos Contreras Legaspi.

"I just want the opportunity to fight for the title again," Moreno said.

The new matchup is a rematch from UFC 255 in November 2020. Moreno defeated Royval via first-round TKO - after Royval suffered a shoulder injury earlier in the fight - to earn his first title shot against then-champion Deiveson Figueiredo.

Moreno, who's from Tijuana, Mexico, is coming off a split-decision loss to Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 290 last July in which he dropped the title in an instant classic. Moreno had captured the belt for the second time in early 2023 with a second win over Figueiredo after initially becoming champion in 2021.

Royval challenged Pantoja for the 125-pound strap at UFC 296 in December, losing by unanimous decision. Royval was riding a three-fight winning streak heading into that bout and has only lost to Pantoja (twice) since the defeat to Moreno more than three years ago.

Moreno will be in the running for the next title shot against Pantoja if he beats Royval. His top competition will be the winner of Matheus Nicolau versus Manel Kape, which co-headlines this weekend's UFC Fight Night card in Las Vegas.

UFC Mexico City will also feature a featherweight rematch between former interim champ Yair Rodriguez and Brian Ortega.