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UFC Closes ESPN Era with Flyweight Title Eliminator Between Brandon Royval and Manel Kape

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 2:27 PM ET

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will close out 2025 and its broadcasting partnership with ESPN with a flyweight showdown that could determine the next title challenger. On December 13, Brandon Royval will meet Manel Kape in the main event of UFC Vegas 112 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The bout not only caps the UFC calendar year but also serves as the final UFC fight broadcast on ESPN, ending a relationship that began in 2019. Earlier this year, UFC president Dana White confirmed a landmark seven-year, $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount+, set to begin in 2026. While the full details of how that partnership will reshape UFC broadcasts remain uncertain, many believe it could spell the end of the traditional pay-per-view model.

UFC is ending PPV in the US as it signs a 7 year $7.7 billion deal to put every event on Paramount+ with some also featuring on CBS pic.twitter.com/bQZdm66G7e

— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) August 11, 2025

A Fight Years in the Making

For Royval, this main event marks a chance to rebound after losing his No. 1 contender spot to Joshua Van at UFC 317 in June. Known for his wild scrambles and never-quit mentality, Royval remains a fan favorite in the flyweight division and has a track record of high-paced, action-packed fights.

Kape, on the other hand, has taken a winding road to contention. Nicknamed “Star Boy,” he first signed with the UFC in 2020 but didn’t debut until 2021. Since then, he has tallied six wins in nine appearances, but his rise has been marred by a staggering nine cancellations. This will be the third time he and Royval have been booked to fight, making December’s clash feel like unfinished business finally settled.

End of an Era

The choice of the UFC Apex as the venue may not provide the glitzy backdrop some fans hoped for in such a historic broadcast moment, but the matchup itself carries plenty of weight. A victory for either man will likely punch their ticket to a flyweight title shot in 2026.

Beyond the Octagon, UFC Vegas 112 represents the end of a broadcast era. Over six years, ESPN has carried some of the sport’s most iconic fights, from championship rivalries to breakout performances that turned contenders into stars. The final ESPN card offers an opportunity for reflection before the sport transitions into a new era with Paramount+.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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