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Mike Chan

Mixed martial artist Lone’er Kavanagh has said he would definitely commit to shooting a film with one of Hong Kong’s biggest action stars if such a chance were ever to arise.
Fresh off his career-biggest win, over former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno last month, Kavanagh, whose mother is from Hong Kong, also said he enjoyed fighting at places that “felt like home”, including China.
The odds were stacked against the 26-year-old, who took the fight on just three weeks’ notice in early February. He was fighting the Mexican Moreno, a former two-time UFC flyweight champion, in Mexico City.
However, Kavanagh, who was unranked heading into the fight, produced a mature performance to win by unanimous decision, improving his career record to 10-1.
“It still feels surreal, you know. It’s hard to [express] how it feels, it’s hard to put into words,” Kavanagh, who was born in and lives in London, said. “I just feel very grateful, I feel very blessed.

“Obviously, I want to get to the top as quickly as possible. So I am going to speak to my manager, my coaches, and then we’ll see what’s next after my break,” the No 6 fighter in the UFC flyweight class added.
Standing at 5ft 4in (1.63 metres) and weighing 125lbs (57kg), Kavanagh also said he was happy to fight with “just my name” for the time being.
“I feel like a nickname has to be given to you, so right now I’m happy with my name,” he said. “And if one comes down the line that I feel fits, then we’ll go with it.”
Born to an Irish father, who died when he was six years old, and a Hong Kong mother, Kavanagh said he loved to fight in both London and China.
He beat Peruvian Jose Ochoa in Macau in November 2024, but lost to American Charles Johnson in Shanghai nine months later.
“Those two [venues] felt like home; they always have a special place in my heart,” he said. “I feel like the best thing about this sport is you get to travel the world doing what you love, and places you wouldn’t really go.
“I’d always like to fight in China and in England, but anywhere else I’m down to fight wherever. I would love to have my future fight in Hong Kong. I’d love to go back.”
Recalling his only trip to the city when he visited after his Macau fight two years ago, Kavanagh, whose Chinese name is Long Er (meaning Dragon’s son), said the city “has a lot of culture to it and has a lot going on”.
“You walk down one street, one thing is happening. You walk down the next street, next door, and another thing is happening,” he said. “I feel like it’s just full of culture, which I love, and I remember a lot of good food.
“I ate too much in Hong Kong last time. Cha Siu and Dim Sum are my favourites, I also love the crispy pork [roast pork] as well.”

Away from the Octagon, Kavanagh, who has a strong background in both kickboxing and Muay Thai and holds a black belt in the former, said he liked fishing and walking his five-year-old mixed breed rescue dog that he named Mocha “because I like the coffee”.
The Londoner was also an Arsenal fan but admitted: “I am not too up to date with it.”
“I like watching completely different things to have a good escape. I love watching comedy and action movies,” he said. “I grew up watching Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Sammo Hung, all of them.
“I feel like everyone who grew up watching [local] martial arts movies dreamed of doing a movie with Jackie Chan. It would be a dream come true for me, so if that were ever to come about, I would 100 per cent do it.”


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Lone’er Kavanagh (left), who has a Hong Kong mother, beat Mexico’s Brandon Moreno in a flyweight bout on UFC Fight Night in Mexico City last month. Photo: Zulla LLC

Lone’er Kavanagh (left) beat Jose Ochoa in Macau, after which he visited Hong Kong. Photo: Zuffa LLC

Lone’er Kavanagh grew up watching films starring Jackie Chan (left) and Sammo Hung. Photo: Golden Harvest

How Hong Kong helped this American sprinter meet new challenges – and learn to run again

Claire Cormier Thielke completed seven marathons on seven continents over seven days in the 777 Challenge last month. Photo: Claire Cormier Thielke

 Claire Cormier Thielke was a 400m and 800m runner for Stanford University and Team USA. Photo: Handout

 Claire Cormier Thielke (right) running at Victoria Harbour. Photo: Claire Cormier Thielke

Claire Cormier Thielke ran a marathon in Antarctica as part of the 777 Challenge. Photo: Claire Cormier Thielke

Claire Cormier Thielke says she wants to “give back” to Hong Kong. Photo: Claire Cormier Thielke

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Yvette Kong competing in the 2016 Olympic Games after qualifying by 0.1 seconds. Photo: Reuters

Yvette Kong (far left) on a 2025 panel about the mindset needed to turn challenges into opportunities. Photo: Handout

Yvette Kong says the next frontier is about helping young people understand their capacity. Photo: Handout

Sport

Hong Kong

Martial Arts

Other Martial Arts

Fresh from a win over an ex-UFC champion, No 6-ranked Lone’er Kavanagh says he wants ‘to get to the top as quickly as possible’


Fresh from a win over an ex-UFC champion, No 6-ranked Lone’er Kavanagh says he wants ‘to get to the top as quickly as possible’.


Sammo Hung Kam-bo

Jet Li

Jackie Chan

MMA fighter with Hong Kong roots wants to fight at ‘home’, make film with Jackie Chan

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Fresh from a win over an ex-UFC champion, No 6-ranked Lone’er Kavanagh says he wants ‘to get to the top as quickly as possible’

Fresh from a win over an ex-UFC champion, No 6-ranked Lone’er Kavanagh says he wants ‘to get to the top as quickly as possible’