The final UFC main event of the ESPN era will see ranked flyweights face off at the UFC Apex.
Brandon Royval and Manel Kape will do battle in the headliner of UFC Fight Night on Dec. 13, which goes down in Las Vegas and marks the final event in the U.S. broadcast rights agreement with ESPN. UFC live event content will move to Paramount+/CBS in 2026.
Two people with knowledge of the matchup verified the booking with MMA Junkie on Monday following an initial report from MMA journalist Marcel Dorff. The people requested anonymity because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Royval also confirmed his next fight on social media (via Instagram):
Royval (17-8 MMA, 7-4 UFC) will attempt to rebound from a loss to Joshua Van in a title eliminator at UFC 317 in June. Kape (21-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) was meant to fight Royval on that card before being forced out with an injury, and now he will try to make up for it.
Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape set to headline UFC’s final 2025 event
As reported by Marcel Dorff on X, the UFC’s final fight of the year will be Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape in the flyweight division. Royval was the No. 1-flyweight contender up until his loss to Joshua Van at UFC 317 in June, and Kape is one good win away from title contention.
Their fight will be a main event at the UFC APEX for UFC Vegas 112 on December 13. It’s not the glamorous backdrop fans would like to see from the final event on ESPN, but it’s a good fight no-less.
Last-chance saloon for Manel Kape?
If you haven’t heard of top-ranked flyweight fighter Manel Kape, that’s because he’s hardly in the Octagon. ‘Star Boy’ was set to debut in 2020, before his fight was delayed until 2021. Since then, he’s had nine fights, winning six, with nine cancellations. As such, his path to the title has been arduous and slow, and this will be his third booking against Royval.
This will be a bad night for Royval.
I shared a mat with Royval like a month ago. That’s all I got.
I’ll pass on little guy mma matches. What is that 125lb men’s fights? Thats woman’s weight. I want Dana to delete any men’s weight division under 145lbs. If you’re a little man and think you’re tough you need to bulk to at least 145lbs. Or go get a sex change and compete on woman’s division.
thats kewl phuck
“Dynamo” is finally making his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut.
After months on the sidelines as a free agent, former Bellator Welterweight champion. Yaroslav Amosov, is set for his long-awaited first Octagon appearance against 36-fight veteran, Neil Magny, at UFC Vegas 112 on Dec. 13, 2025, inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
I thought they wanted to get royval for the Whitehouse? Lol
I hope Kape wins just for the lols
Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape
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Luana Santos vs. Melissa Croden
Allen Frye vs. Guilherme Pat
Tereza Bleda vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth