The world’s most violent roadshow makes a few more stops this weekend. On this final weekend of April, not everybody will be paying attention to the NFL Draft in Detroit. MMA‘s 2024 world tour makes a few more stops on its itinerary later on this week, and one promotion’s got two championships to hand out.
Guadalajara, Mexico is the host city for LUX Fight League‘s LUX 042 on Friday night. As always, live coverage of the event will be seen on UFC Fight Pass in both English and Spanish. Your main card begins late night Friday at 11 pm ET/ 8 pm PT.
Originally, there were three title fights to be held over the course of the night, but a planned fight for the LUX Bantamweight Championship between Juan Diaz (11-1-1 MMA, 3-0 LUX) and Andre Barquero (9-2 MMA, 2-0 LUX) fell through. Diaz will, however, remain on the card against Abraham Nava (6-3 MMA, 2-2 LUX).
All told, barring any postponed fights between now and the night of the event, 12 contests will go down from Guadalajara’s Domo Code Alcaide. Highlighting the night’s activities is the aforementioned championship doubleheader, beginning at 125 lbs. in the LUX 042 co-main event.
Women’s Flyweight Championship Up for Grabs First on Friday
Incumbent LUX Women’s Flyweight Champion Fernanda Munoz (8-2 MMA, 3-0 LUX,) a veteran of fellow UFC Fight Pass stablemates Ultimate Warrior Challenge and Budo Sento Championships, takes on challenger and LUX Strawweight Champion Saray Orozco (8-5 MMA, 5-1 LUX), an alumnae of RIZIN Fighting Federation in the LUX 042 co-main event. As with most MMA championship fights throughout the world, this one is a maximum of five rounds at five minutes per round.
LUX 042 Co-Main Event Fighter Comparison
Heading into this women’s flyweight championship on Friday night, champion Fernanda Munoz stands as the taller contestant at 5-foot-6, compared to the 5-foot-5 frame of Saray Orozco. Both fighters have identical 65-inch reaches.
Can Munoz Keep Her Unbeaten Run Alive?
Champion Fernanda Munoz has gone undefeated in her last five fights. This is part of a larger eight-fight winning streak. To find the last time that she sustained defeat, you’d have to travel back in time to before the pandemic on June 9, 2018.
That night, during Center Real Fights 9, she got knocked out in the second round of her fight against Veronica Vargas (3-0 MMA, 2-0 CRF), who most recently fought in Combate Global on Feb. 24. In more recent times, Munoz bested Elizabeth Rodriguez (2-3 MMA, 2-3 LUX) by unanimous decision on Oct. 6 during LUX 036 on UFC Fight Pass live from the selfsame Domo Code Alcaide in Guadalajara.
Going undefeated over the course of three-plus years is an impressive feat for any fighter, regardless of weight class or promotion. Another victory in LUX 042 would mark nine fights in succession without a loss as well as a first successful defense of her strap.
Will she be able to add another bullet point to her resume with a win here? Stay up late on Friday night and find out in the LUX 042 co-main event.
Saray Orozco Moves Back Up to Flyweight Ahead of LUX 042 Co-Main Event
In the other corner, challenger Saray Orozco has posted a 4-1 record in her last five fights. At present, she’s on a two-fight winning streak. Almost a year ago, she successfully unified the LUX Strawweight Championship with a unanimous decision win over Andrea Vazquez (5-2 MMA, 5-2 LUX) during LUX 032 on May 19, 2023.
Vazquez is herself in action during LUX 042 on Friday night. In an undercard fight, she’ll face off against Leticia Baltazar (2-2 MMA, 1-2 LUX). As far as the Saray Orozco camp is concerned ahead of LUX 042 later on this week, this is not only her first fight in over 11 months, but also her first fight at 125 lbs. since March of 2021.
While moving up to the flyweight division will not be a daunting task for Orozco, having been called upon to do that over 37 months ago during LUX 012, this is her first fight in close to a full year’s time. Thus, the question of ring rust has cropped up again.
With Orozco not having had to fight in months, what kind of training camp has she had leading up to what’s now the LUX 042 co-main event? Only time will tell.
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
This is another strength vs. strength matchup on Friday night. Who will win the day?
Look for Munoz to Punch Her Way to the Win
Fernanda Munoz’s ground game could write the finish to the story in the LUX 042 main event on Friday night. If she’s able to get Saray Orozco to the cage, this one could be a done deal in a hurry, like it was during her 2021 fight in UWC versus Joselin Fuller.
During the second round of a scheduled three, Munoz dropped Fuller to the mat and went to work, softening her with punches. Even though Fuller got a reprieve when the fight transitioned to the clinch, it didn’t last too long, with Munoz dropping her right back down again, continuing to unload with strikes, forcing the referee to finally wave the fight off.
All it will take for Munoz to defend her title is one takedown. Beyond that, it’s her world and we’re all just living in it.
Orozco Has to Attack Munoz
In the other corner, Saray Orozco can’t take her foot off the gas against Fernanda Munoz on Friday night during the LUX 042 co-main event. Her fight against Dianita Reyes in May of 2022 is proof of that.
Throughout the third round, Orozco was relentless in her striking, having already given Reyes a nasty cut above her eye in round two and a limp thanks to a flurry of leg kicks. Midway through the round, Orozco peppered Reyes with a right-handed shot. Ultimately, the variety of shots she landed proved to be too much for Reyes, whose thigh became swollen in the process along with the cut above her right eye.
Between rounds, the fight was ended on the doctor’s advice. If Saray Orozco can beat Fernanda Munoz to the punch, she’ll walk away as a double champion on Friday night.
Final Thoughts
This looks to be a good one. If the winner of the LUX 042 co-main event puts in a great performance, she could be on the fast track to receiving a phone call from UFC CEO Dana White.
Prediction: Saray Orozco by Third-Round KO.
