The 2025 UFC schedule and U.S. broadcast deal with ESPN comes to an end Saturday with UFC on ESPN 73 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
The fitting finale is headlined by a five-round flyweight fight. Former title challenger Brandon Royval (17-8 MMA, 7-4 UFC) takes on Manel Kape (21-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) in a matchup with significant implications on the title picture after the title change from Alexandre Pantoja to Joshua Van at UFC 323.
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For more on the numbers behind the 42nd and final UFC card of the the year, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts for UFC on ESPN 73.
Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape
Brandon Royval
Royval’s three submission victories in UFC flyweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Alexandre Pantoja (six), Demetrious Johnson (five) and Muhammad Mokaev (four).
Royval and Joshua Van combined for 419 significant strikes landed at UFC 317, the most in flyweight history and third-most all-time a single UFC fight.
Royval landed 215 significant strikes landed and Van landed 204 significant strikes at UFC 317, marking the first time in UFC history where two fighters have had 200 significant strikes more in a single fight.
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Royval’s five Fight of the Night bonuses for UFC flyweight bouts are most in divisional history.
Manel Kape
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 01: (R-L) Manel Kape of Angola punches Asu Almabayev of Kazakstan in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on March 01, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Kape has earned 18 of his 21 career victories by stoppage.
Kape has earned four of his six UFC victories by knockout.
Kape’s four knockout victories in UFC flyweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Joseph Benavidez (five).
Giga Chikadze vs. Kevin Vallejos
Giga Chikadze (15-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) enters the event on the first losing skid of his career. He’s 1-3 in his past four fights and hasn’t earned a victory since August 2023.
Melquizael Costa vs. Morgan Charriere
Melquizael Costa’s (24-7 MMA, 5-2 UFC) five-fight UFC winning streak at featherweight is tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the division behind Lerone Murphy (nine), Movsar Evloev (eight) and Steve Garcia (six).
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Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Buchecha
Kennedy Nzechukwu (14-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) is 2-1 since he moved up to the heavyweight division in October.
Nzechukwu earned a knockout at UFC 259 despite a -64 deficit in significant strikes landed, the biggest statistical comeback for a light heavyweight bout and third overall in UFC history.
King Green vs. Lance Gibson Jr.
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King Green (32-17-1 MMA, 13-12-1 UFC) competes in his 27th UFC lightweight bout, tied for the third-most appearances in divisional history behind Jim Miller (43) and Clay Guida (30).
Green is 1-3 in his past four fights dating back to December 2023.
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Green has landed 1,864 significant strikes in UFC lightweight competition, the most in divisional history.
Green has landed 2,091 total strikes in UFC lightweight competition, the most in divisional history.
Lance Gibson Jr. (9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), son of UFC 24 and UFC 29 veteran Lance Gibson, becomes the third second-generation fighter in company history. Randy Couture/Ryan Couture and Gilbert Smith/Gilbert Smith Jr. were the others.
Amanda Lemos vs. Gillian Robertson
Amanda Lemos’ (15-5-1 MMA, 9-5 UFC) five stoppage victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Jessica Andrade (six).
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Lemos’ three knockout victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Andrade (four).
Lemos has landed six knockdowns in UFC strawweight competition, the most in divisional history.
Gillian Robertson (16-8 MMA, 13-6 UFC) is 5-1 since she dropped to the UFC strawweight division in April 2023.
Robertson’s four-fight UFC winning streak at strawweight is tied with Denise Gomes for the longest active streak in the division.
Robertson’s 10 stoppage victories in UFC competition are tied with Amanda Nunes for most by any female in company history.
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Robertson’s seven submission victories in UFC competition are most by any female in company history.
Robertson’s seven stoppage victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Robertson’s six submission victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Robertson defends 66.1 percent of all opponent significant strike attempts in UFC strawweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Danielle Taylor (71.7 percent).
Neil Magny vs. Yaroslav Amosov
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 28: Neil Magny of the United States celebrates after winning his fight against Jake Matthews of Australia in the Welterweight Bout during the UFC Fight Night at RAC Arena on September 28, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Neil Magny (31-13 MMA, 24-12 UFC) competes in his 37th UFC welterweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history.
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Magny competes in his 37th UFC bout, tied for fourth-most I company history behind Jim Miller (46), Andrei Arlovski (42) and Donald Cerrone (38).
Magny’s 24 victories in UFC competition are tied with Charles Oliveira for second-most in company history behind Miller (27).
Magny’s 24 victories in UFC welterweight competition are most in divisional history.
Magny’s total fight time of 7:19:35 in UFC welterweight competition is most in divisional history.
Magny’s 10 stoppage victories in UFC welterweight competition are fourth-most in divisional history behind Matt Brown (15), Vicente Luque (14) and Matt Hughes (12).
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Magny’s 14 decision victories in UFC competition are tied with Brad Tavares for most in company history.
Magny has landed 2,714 total strikes in UFC competition, the third-most in company history behind Max Holloway (3,907) and Merab Dvalishvili (2,782).
Magny is the only fighter in modern UFC history to make five or more octagon appearances in consecutive years. He went 4-1 in 2015 after going 5-0 in 2014.
Magny is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn five victories in a calendar year, as he did in 2014. Kevin Holland (2020) and Roger Huerta (2007) also accomplished the feat.
Yaroslav Amosov (28-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a former Bellator champion, makes his UFC debut.
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Melissa Croden vs. Luana Santos
Luana Santos (9-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) earned the first Americana submission finish in women’s UFC competition at UFC Fight Night 256. She’s one of nine fighters to accomplish the feat overall in company history.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Vegas 112 pre-event facts: Lance Gibson Jr. joins second-gen club
