BREAKING: A highly anticipated non-title flyweight showdown between Brandon Royval and Manel Kape has been confirmed to headline the UFC’s final event of 2025 on December 13 in Las Vegas. Both fighters took to social media to announce the five-round clash, which promises excitement for fans eager for thrilling action.
The event will take place at the Apex, with Royval and Kape currently ranked No. 3 and No. 7 in the flyweight division, respectively. This matchup marks the third attempt to bring these fighters face-to-face this year, heightening the stakes for the bout.
Earlier attempts to schedule this fight faced setbacks. Royval, holding a record of 17-8, withdrew due to injury from their original meeting on March 1. The fight was rebooked for UFC 317 in June, but Kape, with a record of 21-7, also had to pull out due to an injury. In a dramatic turn, Royval stepped in last-minute at UFC 317, facing Joshua Van, who is just 23 years old. Although he lost that bout—a back-and-forth decision that earned Fight of the Night honors—Royval’s resilience has captured the attention of fans and critics alike.
Before that setback, Royval showcased his skills with back-to-back split decision victories over renowned opponents, including Brandon Moreno and Tatsuro Taira. Meanwhile, Kape has been on a roll, winning six of his last seven fights, with a standout knockout against Asu Almabayev in March.
This final fight of the year is set to resonate deeply with fans, as both fighters are looking to solidify their standings in the competitive flyweight landscape. With two fighters determined to prove their dominance, the atmosphere in Las Vegas is expected to be electric.
Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the date of this thrilling encounter. What happens next could redefine the trajectories of both fighters’ careers in the UFC.
