The final UFC main event of the ESPN era will see ranked flyweights face off at the UFC Apex.
Brandon Royval and Manel Kape will do battle in the headliner of UFC Fight Night on Dec. 13, which goes down in Las Vegas and marks the final event in the U.S. broadcast rights agreement with ESPN. UFC live event content will move to Paramount+/CBS in 2026.
Two people with knowledge of the matchup verified the booking with MMA Junkie on Monday following an initial report from MMA journalist Marcel Dorff. The people requested anonymity because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Royval also confirmed his next fight on social media (via Instagram):
Royval (17-8 MMA, 7-4 UFC) will attempt to rebound from a loss to Joshua Van in a title eliminator at UFC 317 in June. Kape (21-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) was meant to fight Royval on that card before being forced out with an injury, and now he will try to make up for it.
