Manel Kape Makes Statement at UFC Vegas 112
Kape Forces His Way Into Flyweight Title Conversation at UFC Vegas 112
Coming off UFC 323, where the flyweight title changed hands and a new contender emerged, it seemed unlikely anyone else could immediately insert themselves into the championship discussion.
Manel Kape did exactly that.
In just over three minutes, “Starboy” became the first man to knock out Brandon Royval. Kape pressured Royval to the fence early, neutralizing his kick-heavy attack. Consistent body work quickly paid dividends as Kape exploded forward with a tight right hand that split Royval’s guard and detonated on his chin. Follow-up strikes on the ground sealed the finish.
It was a massive statement to close out the year and one that forces the UFC to reexamine the flyweight title picture. With Alexandre Pantoja, Tatsuro Taira, and now Kape all making cases, the debate over who should challenge next is wide open.
One of the night’s biggest breakout performances came at featherweight, where Kevin Vallejos officially announced himself as a contender. The Argentine prospect scored a devastating knockout of No. 15-ranked Giga Chikadze. Vallejos backed Chikadze up with sharp right hands, catching him with a spinning backfist. A right hand caught Chikadze as he was crashing to the canvas, followed by brutal elbows that forced the stoppage.
Earlier on the card, Melquizael Costa added another highlight to his growing reel. Costa landed a crushing left high kick to knock out Morgan Charrière, marking the eighth knockout win of his career. After a four-win year, the Brazilian has positioned himself for ranked opposition in 2026.
Former Bellator welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov passed his first UFC test with ease. Long considered a measuring stick for contenders, Neil Magny was unable to slow Amosov’s pressure. Amosov battered Magny’s legs before securing a takedown and transitioning to an anaconda choke for the submission victory.
The heavyweight division also saw notable action, with three bouts on the card. Steven Asplund made the biggest impression, overwhelming Sean Sharaf with volume before finishing him in the second round with a left elbow–right hook combination. Guilherme Pat earned a convincing decision over Allen Frye behind a sharp jab, while Marcus Buchecha and Kennedy Nzechukwu fought to a draw after a Nzechukwu point deduction for an eye poke played a pivotal role in the outcome.
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