LAS VEGAS – Manel Kape plans to change the flyweight title conversation in a big way at UFC on ESPN 73.
Kape (21-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) takes on former title challenger Brandon Royval (17-8 MMA, 7-4 UFC) in the five-round headliner Saturday at the UFC Apex (ESPN2, ESPN+) in what will be the final UFC fight of 2025. Both men have the chance to leave a lasting memory on the minds of fans heading into the promotion’s winter break, and with the 125-pound division in focus, it’s a significant opportunity.
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The top of the weight class saw a shift at UFC 323 when Joshua Van was crowned new champion after Alexandre Pantoja suffered an arm injury just 26 seconds into the fight last Saturday. Just one bout prior, Tatsuro Taira got his breakthrough moment with a second-round TKO of former two-time champion Brandon Moreno.
It all parlays perfectly into another key divisional matchup, and Kape intends to maximize the opportunity at hand.
“Let’s look in the way: Brandon Royval beat Brandon Moreno. Brandon Royval beat Tatsuro Taira. He beat him. He didn’t just win, he beat him,” Kape told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “Me, Saturday night, I’ll make Brandon Royval look easy, style on him, stop him. What can they deny me for? They cannot deny. He beat the contender fighter, and I just beat the guy that beat you guys. So there is no more questions. There is no more talk, and I’m just going to prove that I’m the man. I’m the fighter with the best style to be a champion. I’m the fighter that this division needs.”
Kape, No. 6 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie flyweight rankings, has won six of his past seven and is coming off a third-round TKO of Asu Almabayev in March. He’s been scheduled to fight No. 3-ranked Royval twice already this year, but both sides have each pulled out once.
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The expectation is that, when healthy, Pantoja will get an immediate title shot. UFC CEO Dana White said Van will likely defend his title against another contender while the recovery process unfolds, though, and despite Taira’s big performance at UFC 323, Kape said he intends to do something better.
“I’m very comfortable in wherever the fight goes,” Kape said. “Of course I want to put on a show, I will put on a show. I will give the fans a great fight. I expect to make a big statement and deliver a masterpiece again.
“What happened last Saturday, everyone is going to forgot and put their eyes on what happens Saturday night.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Vegas 112: Manel Kape plots ‘masterpiece’ to land title shot
