Manel Kape stops Brandon Royval with first-round knockout. Manel Kape delivered a spectacular performance in the main event of UFC Vegas 112 stopping Brandon Royval with a first-round knockout.
Las Vegas lit up one last time this year as the T-Mobile Arena hosted UFC Vegas 112 on Saturday, December 13, 2025, closing out the UFC calendar with a bang. Under the bright lights and roaring crowd, the spotlight fell on the much-anticipated matchup that served as the final fight night of the year as there is no better way to wrap up 2025 than with fists flying, rivalries renewed, and the Octagon shaking one more time before the doors close until next year.
Brandon Royval has remained one of the most exciting flyweights on the roster, Royval is coming off a tough loss to rising contender Joshua Van at UFC 317 on June 28, 2025. The three-round war set a UFC record for most significant strikes landed in a non-title flyweight fight, but Royval ultimately lost via unanimous decision.
Before the Van fight, Royval secured two razor-close split-decision wins, one over Tatsuro Taira and another over former champion Brandon Moreno, Royval previously challenged Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight championship at UFC 296 in December 2023 but came up short on the scorecards.
His opponent, Manel Kape walked into this main event riding impressive momentum fueled by knockout power and sharpened striking. Kape scored a standout third-round TKO over Asu Almabayev In March 2025, a performance that earned heavy praise and confirmed his status as a dangerous contender.
Kape also delivered a decisive KO against Bruno Gustavo da Silva in December 2024, showing his ability to close the show with speed and precision. His lone setback came at UFC 304 in July 2024, when undefeated rising star Muhammad Mokaev outpointed him across three rounds,
Kapel made his way into the octagon first all excited followed by Royval. From the opening bell, both fighters took the center of the Octagon, but it was immediately clear that Kape had come in sharp and focused. He showcased his trademark speed and footwork, staying light on his feet while feinting and probing for openings. Royval attempted to establish his rhythm with movement and pressure, looking to draw Kape into exchanges and force a scramble. However, Kape remained composed, circling away from and timing Royval’s entries.
Midway through the round, Kape found his moment. As Royval stepped forward, Kape unleashed a clean, powerful combination that caught Royval flush. The shots sent Royval crashing to the canvas, where Kape followed up with precise ground strikes. The referee had no choice but to step in, waving off the contest before Royval could recover. The stoppage came swiftly, marking one of the most decisive finishes of Kape’s UFC career.
Kape thanked Allah and then his people for showing up to support him. Now Kape calls for Joshua Van, saying if he didn’t break his feet in July, he’d be champion instead of Van. He then calls himself Van’s “Daddy” and then says he’s happy to fight Van in Houston. “I’m the best here. I’m the f*cking best.” “This is beautiful violence, that’s what I do. You guys just step in the cage.”
With one perfectly timed strike, Manel Kape didn’t just end the fight, he made a loud statement to the entire flyweight division. Stopping Brandon Royval in the opening round of the year’s final UFC main event showed exactly how dangerous and precise Kape can be when he finds his moment. As the Octagon lights dim on 2025, Kape walks away with momentum, confidence, and the kind of finish that keeps his name firmly in the title conversation heading into the new year.
