Kavanagh is a plus athlete first and foremost. It’s clear from the speed with which Kanavagh can change directions or burst forward that he’s built for power, a trait that comes through in his heavy punches and running double leg alike. From a more technical standpoint, Kavanagh is a tricky kicker who relies on good in-and-out movement to set up his hands. There is no easy way to defeat Moreno, who almost never gets finished and will scrap it out to the very end. That said, the focus should be on taking away Moreno’s best weapons, namely that jab. If Kavanagh can focus on using his kicks — like that crafty lead leg snap kick — to interrupt Moreno’s dipping jab and general head movement, it will go a long way in making him easier to hit. Before we dive into the main and co-main event, which includes the bantamweight collision between former title challenger Marlon Vera and surging 135-pound contender David Martinez, check out Andrew Richardson’s “X-Factor” breakdown for the rest of the UFC Mexico main card. Get all the latest “Moreno vs. Kavanagh” odds and betting props courtesy of FanDuel right. Fortunately, the civil unrest taking place in Mexico this week is not expected to affect tomorrow’s fight card.

Marlon Vera is coming off three straight losses for the first time in his career and I’m tickled by all the experts who suggest Vera is washed and at the tail end of his run, unable to find the win column. As far as I’m concerned, losing by decision to more complete fighters is something “Chito” has done consistently throughout his career. We may have given him a part-time pedestal after knockout wins over Frankie Edgar (UFC 268) and Dominick Cruz (UFC San Diego), but looking back I think we would all agree “The Answer” and “The Dominator” were already toast by the time Vera got his hands (and the referee’s alcohol and cigarette breath) on them. Vera looks exceptional against the bottom half of the division and merely average against the best of the best. He’s a busy striker with good kicks and underrated wrestling and has proven he can absorb a frightening amount of damage and somehow walk it off.

Despite his underdog status, I would not be surprised if Vera won this fight. That likely depends on how much wrestling he decides to implement in his attack. Martinez is the younger, faster fighter but similar to the main event, he’s never come close to fighting the caliber of competition that Vera has faced — and often times defeated — in his 12 years under the UFC banner. I don’t see many real advantages for the young fighter, who is being brought up far too quickly after Johnson just proved that he still needs experience. Kavanagh is undoubtedly a great athlete, but his technical game isn’t particularly deep yet, and he sometimes fatigues as a result of his own pace. Moreno has the composure to fire back when Kavanagh loads up, and his ripping kicks should prove a great answer to Kavanagh’s style of movement. There’s always a chance Moreno’s chin is suddenly shot after the Taira loss or that he just fails to perform, but otherwise, this should be another clear victory for the veteran.