UFC Cage Locks: Royval vs. Kape to end year with all-action flyweight bout

The UFC's 2025 schedule concludes on Saturday with a Fight Night headlined by flyweight contenders Brandon Royval and Manel Cape.

The 13-fight lineup also includes a pair of fan-friendly featherweight bouts, with Kevin Vallejos looking to break into the rankings when he faces No. 15 contender Giga Chikadze, while Melkizael Costa is looking for his fifth straight win when he faces Morgan Charriere, who is coming off a strong knockout win.

All 26 athletes scheduled to compete at the UFC Apex successfully lifted weight on their first try on Friday. Royval and Cape both weighed in at 126 pounds, the limit for non-title flyweight bouts, with Cape being the last fighter to step on the scale. The rising challenger hit the target with just seconds left in the allotted weigh-in window.

Even though the tournament will be held in Las Vegas, there is a group of Canadian fighters hoping to end the year in style.

The preliminary competition features a trio of Canadians, each representing a different weight class, with Gillian Robertson, Melissa Croden and Jamie-Lyn Hort competing in the preliminaries.

Lance Gibson Jr. son of two-time UFC competitor Lance Gibson Sr.makes his UFC debut in a short time. The 30-year-old, who fights out of Port Moody, British Columbia, will open the main card in a catchweight bout with Bobby “King” Green. Both fighters usually compete as lightweights at 155 pounds, but due to the short nature of the fight, they settled for a catch weight of 160 pounds, and at Friday's weigh-ins each stepped on the scale at 158.5 pounds.

The preliminary card also features the expected debut of Yaroslav Amosov. The former Bellator MMA welterweight champion will face Neil Magny, who ranks second on the UFC's all-time wins list with 24 wins. Both Magny and Amosov entered the fight at the non-title welterweight limit of 171 pounds.

Below is the projected fight order (subject to change) and full UFC Fight Night predictions: Royval vs. Cape…

Brandon Royval vs. Manel Cape

— Giga Chikadze vs. Kevin Vallejos

— Cesar Almeida vs. Cesar Alekseychuk

— Melkisael Costa vs. Morgan Charriere

–Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Buchechi

— Bobby “King” Green vs. Lance Gibson Jr.

— Amanda Lemos vs. Gillian Robertson

–Joanderson Brito Vs. Isaac Thomson

— Neil Magny vs. Yaroslav Amosov

— Steven Asplund vs. Shawn Sharaf

–Melissa Croden vs. Luana Santos

— Allen Frye vs. Guilherme Pata

— Lamy-Lyn Hort vs. Wolf

Ahead of every UFC event in 2025, UFC reporter Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter), producer Dan Fernandez (@DanFernandez__) and writer/editor Mike Johnston (@JerseysJ_MMA) will look at the odds and make four betting predictions using fantasy dollars: one best bet, one favorite, one underdog and one dart throw bet. REMINDER: Sportsnet is committed to promoting and informing audiences about the importance of responsible betting. Sources of information about responsible gambling can be found HERE.

Cage lock: Asplund vs. Sharaf ends at -588 distance

Darling: Melquisael Costa -115

Underdog: Brandon Royval +240

Dart throw: Costa wins at +575 distance

While Asplund and Sharaf could go the distance, they have only achieved one decision together in their professional careers. More often than not, this match should have a finish. … Costa's chances are surprisingly low considering he went 3-0 in 2025 against three opponents who I believe could beat Charrière any day. I think he will win this fight and that victory is on the agenda. I was very impressed with his performance in 2025. … Kape is the legitimate favorite, but Royval is always alive, and if he can escape Kape's power, I wouldn't be surprised if he comes close to doubling his production. While Kape is dangerous, Royval has proven his mettle throughout his career.

Cage lock: Hort vs Bleda goes the distance -275

Darling: Gillian Robertson -200

Underdog: Melissa Croden +105

Dart throw: Croden by TKO +450

A nice way to end the year with all four elections involving Canadians. I don't think too much justification is needed here. Croden's TKO in Vancouver earlier this year was one of the very few darts I actually hit. Lightning could easily strike twice here, especially since Melissa Croden vs. Luana Santos would be a classic wrestler vs. striker match.

Cage lock: Almeida vs. Alekseychuk ends at -250 distance

Darling: Melquisael Costa -115

Underdog: Brandon Royval +240

Dart throw: Royal by submission Round 4 +3500

Royal will likely be spotted early and often, but his pace won't slow down as the fight progresses, whereas Kape may. Over five rounds I can see Royval eventually wearing Kape down and showing why he has more tools in his arsenal. There will be a lot of preparation to do for the final event in 2025, so I'll double down and say that Royval finds a late bid. … Costa may be undercut by Charrière, who hits hard, but I'm very impressed with Costa on his current winning streak and think he's an underrated talent in the lightweight division. … Cesar Oleksiejchuk said he wants to slow things down with Cesar Almeida, but both guys hit so hard that I don't think this guy will need all three rounds.