Royval vs. Kape to Headline Final UFC Event in 2025
An exciting flyweight matchup between Brandon Royval and Manel Kape will be the main event of the final UFC event in 2025, scheduled for December 13th in Las Vegas.
Both fighters confirmed the five-round fight through their social media. The UFC Fight Night event will take place at the Apex.
Royval and Kape are ranked as numbers 3 and 7, respectively, in the UFC’s flyweight division. This will be the third time this year that the UFC has tried to make this matchup happen.
Originally, they were expected to face each other on March 1, but Royval withdrew due to an injury. Then, the fight was rescheduled for UFC 317 in June, but Kape had to withdraw due to injury.
Royval, who trains in Denver, accepted a last-minute replacement fight at UFC 317 against 23-year-old Joshua Van. Royval lost by decision in a very close fight that was awarded Fight of the Night and propelled Van to a future title opportunity. Before that loss, Royval had achieved consecutive split-decision victories against high-caliber fighters like Brandon Moreno and Tatsuro Taira.
Kape has won six of his last seven fights, including a knockout over Asu Almabayev in March.
