Top-ranked flyweights Brandon Royval and Manel Kape finally clash inside the Octagon after two botched attempts. The flyweight standouts are set to light up the UFC Apex in the last UFC bout of 2025 this Saturday. It will also be the last UFC event broadcast on ESPN as the promotion gets new TV rights next year. Former flyweight title challenger Brandon Royval lost to current champion Joshua Van earlier this year when the second attempt to fight with Kape fell through. An injury to Royval led to the cancellation of the initial matchup, with Manel Kape fighting and defeating Asu Almabayev. Former Rizin bantamweight champion Manel Kape, who comes in on the back of consecutive stoppages, has won six of his last seven. He is a huge favorite ahead of this main event fixture at UFC on ESPN 73.
Bet on Brandon Royval vs Manel Kape with 1xBet
Brandon Royval vs Manel Kape Fight Details
- Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025
- Time: 23:00 ET
- Venue: UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada
Where to Watch Brandon Royval vs Manel Kape Live On TV or Stream
| Country | TV Channel/Stream |
|---|---|
| UK | TNT Sports |
| US | ESPN+ ESPN2 |
| Canada | Sportsnet |
| Nigeria | Supersport, DSTV Stream |
Brandon Royval vs Manel Kape Fight Preview
Brandon Royval: form and statistics
The No. 2 ranked flyweight contender has fought ranked opponents since joining the UFC in 2020. Brandon Royval is 2-2 in his last four, with his last outing a decision loss against Joshua Van at UFC 317 in the Summer. The former LFA flyweight champion is 7-4 in the UFC where he has won Fight of the Night five times. “Raw Dawg’s”bouts have lots of significant strikes. Against Van last time out, the pairing landed a total of 419 significant strikes, clinching the record for most significant strikes landed in a three-round UFC fight. The American also broke the record in his 2024 victory over Brandon Moreno with the pairing recording the most total strikes landed in a UFC flyweight bout.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 33
- Height: 5'9"
- Reach: 68"
- Weight: 125lbs (57kg)
- Record: 17-8
Manel Kape: form and statistics
Ranked at No. 6 in the flyweight class, Angolan-born Portuguese, Manel Kape is 6-1 in his last seven with back-to-back TKOs in his last two. The former Rizin bantamweight king earned his first performance bonus with the TKO over Almabayev. The 32-year-old, who fights out of Phuket, Thailand, has never been finished in the UFC, where he has a record of 6-3, having dropped his first two fights in the promotion. "Star Boy" has finished his opponent in four of his six UFC wins.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 32
- Height: 5'5"
- Reach: 68"
- Weight: 125lbs (57kg)
- Record: 22-7
Brandon Royval vs Manel Kape Fight Prediction
With Royval’s antecedents, this bout is likely a shoo-in for Fight of the Night. Fans will see an all-action, high-paced battle underlined by volume striking from both fighters. Added to the chaos of Royval's submission attempts and grappling, this fight will be one to never look away. We think Manel Kape's superior and accurate boxing and kicking gives him the edge. While he will attempt to get a finish, Royval is an experienced warrior and will not be put away easily. We think Royval will do better than hanging on and could possibly nick a decision here. Bet on Over 2.5.
Brandon Royval vs Manel Kape Betting Odds
| Bookmakers | Over 2.5 rounds | Fight to go the distance (yes) |
|---|---|---|
| Bc.Game | 1.47 | 2.40 |
| 1xBet | 1.47 | 2.14 |
| Betway | N/A | 2.43 |
