Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape will formally shut out the UFC’s 2025.
Emanating from The APEX in Las Vegas on December 13, Royval and Kape will headline the promotional remaining Battle Evening card of the 12 months. It’ll additionally function the ultimate UFC struggle to be broadcast on ESPN after the UFC locked in a massive $7.7 billion deal with Paramount+ beginning in 2026.
Information of the struggle was first introduced by Marcel Dorff earlier than being later confirmed by MMA Junkie. Royval additionally confirmed the bout through Instagram.
This marks the third time Brandon Royval and Manel Kape have been booked to struggle
Royval and Kape had been initially scheduled to compete on March 1 earlier than ‘Uncooked Dawg’ bowed out of the bout as a result of an harm. The competition was rebooked for June, however the struggle fell via as soon as once more, this time as a result of Kape struggling a foot harm.
Royval finally went on to ship a Fight of the Year contender in opposition to Joshua Van at UFC 317. Although he got here up quick, Royval’s inventory continued to rise following the critically acclaimed conflict. He at present sits because the third-ranked contender within the division, 4 spots above Kape, who occupies the No. 7 slot.
‘Uncooked Dawg’ is 3-2 in his final 5, his losses coming in opposition to reigning flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja and the aforementioned Joshua Van.
As for Kape, ‘Starboy’ is coming off back-to-back third-round knockouts in opposition to Bruno Silva and Asu Almabayev. Total, he’s 6-3 contained in the Octagon along with his most up-to-date loss coming in opposition to former UFC standout Muhammad Mokaev.
Whereas Joshua Van is anticipated to be the following man up for Pantoja, Royval vs. Kape will probably function a title eliminator, the winner transferring on to face the winner of the yet-to-be-announced conflict between Pantoja and Van.
