UFC Fight Night: Brandon Royval vs Manel Kape Preview & Prediction
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Elite flyweights collide as America’s Brandon Royval meets Portuguese-Angolan contender Manel Kape in a pivotal UFC main event.
Brandon Royval vs Manel Kape facts
What time are Brandon Royval and Manel Kape expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Royval vs Kape? UFC Apex, Enterprise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Royval vs Kape? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night: Royval vs Kape
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Royval vs Kape on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Royval vs Kape? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Royval vs Kape main card
Brandon Royval vs Manel Kape (Flyweight)
Giga Chikadze vs Kevin Vallejos (Featherweight)
Cesar Almeida vs Cezary Oleksiejczuk (Middleweight)
Melquizael Costa vs Morgan Charriere (Featherweight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Marcus Buchecha (Heavyweight)
King Green vs Lance Gibson Jr. (Catchweight - 160 lb)
UFC Fight Night: Royval vs Kape prelims
Amanda Lemos vs Gillian Robertson (Women’s Strawweight)
Joanderson Brito vs Isaac Thomson (Featherweight)
Neil Magny vs Yaroslav Amosov (Welterweight)
Sean Sharaf vs Steven Asplund (Heavyweight)
Melissa Croden vs Luana Santos (Women’s Bantamweight)
Allen Frye vs Guilherme Pat (Heavyweight)
Jamey-Lyn Horth vs Tereza Bleda (Women’s Flyweight)
Brandon Royval: Chaotic finisher seeking another run at the title
Brandon “Raw Dawg” Royval (17-8-0) enters this main event as the No. 2 ranked flyweight and one of the most unpredictable offensive forces in the division. Known for his wild pace, flowing scrambles and non-stop output, Royval has built a reputation as a fighter who drags opponents into uncomfortable, chaotic exchanges. His résumé includes high-level wins over Kai Kara-France, Matheus Nicolau, and a recent split-decision victory over former champion Brandon Moreno, reaffirming his position near the top of the weight class.
At 5'9" with a 68-inch reach, Royval uses his height to create long angles and awkward entries, firing looping punches, stabbing kicks and opportunistic knees that disrupt rhythm. His frantic transitions make him a constant submission threat, particularly during scrambles where he thrives. However, his greatest weakness remains his defensive vulnerabilities. Royval is often hit cleanly due to his wide stance and willingness to trade, a flaw that proved costly in his losses to Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van in his last fight. Still, his pace, creativity and ability to overwhelm opponents in prolonged exchanges make him a uniquely dangerous challenge.
Manel Kape: Explosive contender entering his prime and closing in on a title shot
Manel “Starboy” Kape (21-7-0) arrives as the No. 6 ranked flyweight and one of the division’s most dynamic strikers. Although he stumbled early in his UFC run, he has since found his rhythm, winning six of his last seven bouts and putting together back-to-back finishes. His recent victory over Asu Almabayev was a defining moment, showcasing the explosive precision and timing that has long defined his style.
Standing 5'5" with a 68-inch reach, Kape uses his compact frame to generate tremendous power in tight exchanges. His counter-striking is among the sharpest in the division, punishing opponents who enter recklessly or overcommit. While he can be low output at times, he excels in landing the more damaging, decisive shots. Kape has also rounded out his defensive grappling, showing improved takedown awareness and composure in scrambles — an essential tool against a scramble-heavy fighter like Royval. At 32, he appears to be in the peak of his athletic and technical prime, with a title opportunity inching ever closer.
Brandon Royval vs Manel Kape prediction
This matchup hinges on tempo, discipline and range management. Royval will look to weaponise chaos, forcing scrambles, creating long striking exchanges and testing Kape’s comfort under sustained pressure. If he can maintain a high pace and keep the fight irregular, he can absolutely pull ahead on volume and unpredictability. However, Royval’s defensive gaps — particularly his tendency to enter exchanges with his chin high — align directly with Kape’s strengths.
Kape is the cleaner, more accurate striker, with superior shot selection and the ability to punish openings decisively. If the fight settles into a structured rhythm, or if Royval’s aggression becomes predictable, Kape’s counters should find their mark. Over five rounds, the fighter with better precision, timing and defensive responsibility generally prevails, and that points towards the Angolan contender.
Prediction: Manel Kape to win by Decision
