Brandon Royval Overcomes Manel Kape in Flyweight Thriller at UFC Fight Night APEX

On December 13, 2025, the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, hosted UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Kape, the promotion’s final event of the year, where Brandon “Raw Dawg” Royval edged out Manel Kape via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) in a chaotic flyweight headliner. Royval, the American submission threat, controlled 6:40 of the fight with explosive scrambles and landed 72 of 138 significant strikes (52% accuracy) to outlast Kape’s blistering striking. Kape, the Angolan knockout artist, landed 68 of 125 strikes (54%) and rocked Royval in Round 2, but couldn’t secure a finish, dropping to 21-7. The 1,500-strong crowd at the intimate APEX, a mix of hardcore Vegas fans and streaming viewers worldwide, buzzed as Royval’s resilience prevailed, chanting “Raw Dawg!” in the compact arena. Airing live on ESPN+ at 9:00 p.m. ET, this main event, part of a card closing out 2025 with prelims featuring Giga Chikadze vs. Kevin Vallejos, delivered a potential Fight of the Night, with X posts like @UFC tweeting, “Royval survives Kape’s storm—flyweight chaos!” This contender bout positioned Royval for a title rematch against Alexandre Pantoja, while Kape’s power kept him in the division’s top ranks.

Fight Overview

The Royval vs. Kape main event topped UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Kape’s main card, a 10-fight event kicking off with prelims at 6:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and the main card at 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Slated for around 11:00 p.m. ET, the three-round bout served as a flyweight eliminator, with the winner eyeing Alexandre Pantoja’s belt in early 2026. Royval, the -150 favorite (BetMGM), entered seeking momentum after his 2025 loss to Pantoja, while Kape, at +130, aimed to break into title contention with his knockout streak. X hype was electric, with @MMAJunkie tweeting, “Royval’s scrambles vs. Kape’s speed—APEX gonna erupt,” and @BestFightPicks predicting a “KO or sub banger.” The UFC APEX’s 1,500 capacity was packed, fueled by Vegas’s year-end festivities like fan meet-and-greets at the Palms Casino and holiday watch parties. Fan predictions split 55% for Royval’s grappling and 45% for Kape’s striking, per @SkyBet polls, with the bout billed as flyweight’s next big rivalry.

Brandon Royval: The 33-year-old from Denver, Colorado, entered with a 17-7 record (7-3 UFC), including 3 knockouts and 11 submissions. Standing at 5’9” with a 68-inch reach, the orthodox fighter’s 5.5 significant strikes per minute and 3.2 takedowns per fight (UFC Stats) define his unpredictable style. His 2025 submission of Tatsuro Taira showcased his chaos. Trained at Factory X, X clips show Royval drilling guillotines with Justin Gaethje. @MMAFighting notes, “Royval’s a wildcard—upset specialist.”

Manel Kape: The 32-year-old from Luanda, Angola, carried a 21-6 record (6-2 UFC), with 15 knockouts. At 5’5” with a 66-inch reach, the orthodox striker’s 6.1 significant strikes per minute and 62% accuracy (UFC Stats) highlight his Muay Thai base. His 2025 KO of Muhammad Mokaev capped a four-fight streak. Training at Kill Cliff FC, X footage shows Kape sharpening knees with Alex Pereira. @BetsMMAX tweets, “Kape’s +130 odds scream KO threat.”

The Fight: Round-by-Round Breakdown

Round 1: The APEX crowd roars as Royval opens with a flying knee, testing Kape’s guard. Kape counters with a low kick, shooting for a single-leg at 1:15, but Royval sprawls, landing elbows from top. Royval controls for 1:40, though Kape threatens a heel hook. Royval lands 24 of 42 significant strikes to Kape’s 18 of 32 (UFC Stats). @UFC scores it 10-9 Royval, tweeting, “Raw Dawg’s scrambles set the tone.”

Round 2: Kape starts explosively, landing a head kick at 0:50 that wobbles Royval, drawing gasps. Royval recovers, clinching for a takedown at 1:50, reversing to top for 1:20. Kape rises, firing knees, but Royval’s volume edges it, landing 24 of 48 strikes to Kape’s 26 of 50. @CagePulseUFC calls it 10-9 Kape, noting, “Manel’s striking shines, but Brandon survives.”

Round 3: Trailing, Kape presses with combos, but Royval’s double-leg at 1:00 grounds the fight. Royval transitions to back control, threatening a choke, but Kape defends. Royval lands 24 of 48 strikes to Kape’s 24 of 43. @SherdogX scores it 10-9 Royval, tweeting, “Raw Dawg’s cardio wins the war!”

Key Moments and Impact

• Royval’s Scrambles: His 3 takedowns and 6:40 control time wore Kape down, landing 72 of 138 significant strikes (52%) to Kape’s 68 of 125 (54%). @MMAVibeX tweeted, “Royval’s chaos controlled the fight—title shot next.”
• Kape’s Second-Round Kick: His head kick rocked Royval, showing power, with @BetsX365 noting, “Manel nearly finished it.”
• Third-Round Back Control: Royval’s positioning won the round, per @FightFanX: “Raw Dawg’s resilience shines.”
• Fan Reaction: APEX’s 1,500 fans chanted for Kape’s heart, with X splitting 55% for Royval (@UFC_FightPass: “Brandon’s back”) and 45% for Kape (@showtimebets67: “Manel’s a sniper”).

Post-Fight Analysis and Implications

In his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping, Royval called for Pantoja, stating, “Rematch now—let’s settle it!” His eighth UFC win, including a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus, vaults him to No. 1 contender. His 5.5 strike rate and scramble ability highlight his edge, though Kape’s kicks tested his chin. @TheAthleticMMA: “Royval’s flyweight’s new force.”

Kape, gracious in defeat, told ESPN, “Brandon was tougher—I’ll improve.” His seventh loss (21-7) keeps him top-5, with X suggesting a rebound vs. Tatsuro Taira. @maniacbetsmma: “Kape’s still explosive—watch him.” Flyweight heats up, with Pantoja and Kai Kara-France atop.

Event Context and Las Vegas Atmosphere

UFC Fight Night APEX closed 2025 with Chikadze’s KO of Vallejos and a submission by Cesar Almeida. Prelims featured a decision by Melquizael Costa. APEX’s 1,500 fans, amid Palms meet-and-greets and holiday parties, created intimate vibes. @UFC tweeted, “Vegas ends the year with fire!” 60% finish rate and ESPN+ success marked a strong close.

What’s Next?

Royval targets Pantoja at UFC 330; Kape faces Taira in February. Royval’s decision cements his rise, with title dreams next.

Royval vs. Kape on December 13, 2025, saw Brandon Royval outlast Manel Kape via unanimous decision, his scrambles and 52% striking accuracy dominating the eliminator. APEX’s electric roar and stacked card amplified the stakes. As Royval eyes Pantoja and Kape rebounds, this defines flyweight’s future.