Angolan-born Kape chases major scalp

Angolan-born Manel Kape will chase the biggest win of his MMA career when he faces former championship challenger Brandon Royval in the flyweight main event of a UFC Fight Night, set for the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on the morning of 14 December 2025.

Kape (21-7) is targeting a third successive win after TKO victories over Bruno Gustavo da Silva and Asu Almabayev within the past 12 months, as he looks to rise from No 7 in the division rankings.

The 31-year-old “Starboy”, who fights under the Portuguese flag, is ready to fight for the full five rounds if necessary.

“I'm the same fighter, and even better when the rounds go up and up. So, for me, fighting five rounds is fighting on my terms, and I'll take the opportunity,” explained Kape. "But, if (he) makes any mistake in the first round, I'll make him pay.”

Final Fight Week of 2025 👊💥 #UFCVegas112

🇺🇸 Brandon Royval v Manel Kape 🇵🇹🇦🇴 pic.twitter.com/QqRJZa6D5h — UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) December 8, 2025

Royval (17-8) – who fought for the Flyweight Championship two years ago, losing to Alexandre Pantoja – is looking to bounce back from a decision defeat at the hands of Joshua Van in June of this year. The 33-year-old American, nicknamed “Raw Dawg”, took that fight on short notice after the original bout with Kape was called off due to an injury to the latter.

“I think honestly I'm the most disrespected fighter in the UFC,” said Royval.

“I think it's been shown over and over again. Any time a money line comes out, I think I've been a favourite against Matt Schnell and never again in the UFC.

“My whole entire career it's been that way. Nothing is different, but I feel like I get continuously disrespected by the fans and whoever the oddsmakers are. But it doesn't matter. Any time I win a fight something comes up.”

The rest of the main card features Nigeria’s Kennedy Nzechukwu taking on Marcus Buchecha in a heavyweight bout; Giga Chikadze battles Kevin Vallejos in the featherweight co-main event; Cesar Almeida faces Cezary Oleksiejczuk in a middleweight match; and a featherweight fight pits Melquizael Costa against Morgan Charriere.

UFC Fight Night: Royval v Kape – Main card

Main event: Flyweight: Brandon Royval v Manel Kape

Featherweight: Giga Chikadze v Kevin Vallejos

Middleweight: Cesar Almeida v Cezary Oleksiejczuk

Featherweight: Melquizael Costa v Morgan Charriere

Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu v Marcus Buchecha