Sofia Montenegro, a Season 9 Contender Series contract winner set for her UFC debut, has withdrawn from UFC Mexico City on February 28, 2026, at Arena CDMX for undisclosed reasons, leaving Ernesta Kareckaite without an opponent. Undefeated 7-0 knockout artist Regina Tarin, a 21-year-old prospect known as 'Kill Bill' with an 84% finish rate, steps in on three days' notice at a 130-pound catchweight. Tarin was already scheduled for a Muay Thai fight in Mexico City, easing the switch; she has notable wins under Combate Global including over ex-TUF fighter Kaytlin Neil. Kareckaite (6-1-1, 1-1 UFC) recently won a decision over Nicolle Caliari. This reshuffle bolsters the women's flyweight prelims amid a stacked card headlined by Brandon Moreno vs. Lone'er Kavanagh. Expect no further changes as the event nears.
Sofia Montenegro's withdrawal from UFC Mexico City has forced a late reshuffling of the women's flyweight prelims, with undefeated prospect Regina Tarin stepping in on just three days' notice to face Ernesta Kareckaite at a 130-pound catchweight on February 28, 2026, at Arena CDMX.
Montenegro, a Season 9 Contender Series contract winner, had been preparing for her UFC debut before pulling out for undisclosed reasons. Her exit left Kareckaite in need of an opponent with the event days away.
Tarin, nicknamed "Kill Bill," is a 21-year-old Mexican prospect who enters the bout with a perfect 7-0 record and an 84 percent finish rate, making her one of the more exciting young fighters outside the UFC roster. The transition to this matchup came with minimal disruption — Tarin was already in Mexico City for a scheduled Muay Thai bout. Her resume includes notable victories under Combate Global, among them a win over former TUF fighter Kaytlin Neil.
Kareckaite, the Lithuanian fighter known as "Heavy-Handed," brings a record of 6-2-1 overall and a 1-1 mark inside the UFC. The 27-year-old out of Fighters Land stands five-foot-nine with a 71-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. She is coming off a decision victory over Nicolle Caliari and lives up to her nickname on the stat sheet, averaging 7.28 significant strikes landed per minute with 42 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Tarin's unbeaten record and high finish rate make her a credible threat despite the short-notice circumstances
- Kareckaite needs a win to build momentum after going 1-1 in her first two UFC appearances
- The catchweight setting at 130 pounds adds an unusual wrinkle to divisional stakes for both fighters
- The bout adds depth to the prelim card, which is headlined by Brandon Moreno versus Lone'er Kavanagh
