UFC Vegas 112 closes out the UFC's 2025 with a flyweight contender clash between Brandon Royval and Manel Kape.
It's only fitting that the UFC ends an up-and-down 2025 with one last stop in the APEX facility for UFC Vegas 112. Thankfully, the stakes are high this Saturday in the ever-changing 125-pound waters, as the final main event of the year features a top contender clash between Brandon Royval and Manel Kape.
Alexandre Pantoja's unsettlingly grotesque 26-second elbow dislocation this past weekend at UFC 323 resulted in the flyweight title changing hands to Joshua Van. It also opened the door for top-ranked names like Royval and Kape to make their mark in what could be a brief window of opportunity, as Van may defend his belt in 2026 before a healed Pantoja begins his inevitable title redemption arc.
Other than this weekend's main event, there are tidbits of intrigue scattered across the UFC's last show of the year, but that's about it. It's par for the course at the APEX, but thankfully the start of the new year and the Paramount era will seemingly bring greener pastures — at least temporarily.
👑 UFC Vegas 112 lineup Crown grade: D. 👑
Betting odds via BetMGM.
125 pounds: Brandon Royval (+240) vs. Manel Kape (-300)
Kape has been somewhat of a prisoner of moments since he arrived in the UFC.
The former RIZIN bantamweight champion burst into the UFC in 2021 with ultra-clear potential, but early controversial decision losses and fight withdrawals quickly stunted any real momentum. Kape has rebounded since his latest loss to Muhammad Mokaev in July 2024, and now strides in Saturday looking arguably better than ever, however his level of opposition is still worth questioning.
Against Bruno Gustavo da Silva and Asu Almabayev, "Starboy" styled, as he arguably should have. Both were inexperienced competitors at the highest level. Thus far in the UFC, that's when Kape has looked his best, showcasing his superbly crisp striking with his great hand speed and strong overall wrestling game playing support.
Against Royval, though, Kape is tasked with the polar opposite.
"Rawdog" has only lost to the very best in the UFC and brings hellish war to anyone who steps foot across from him. If someone's going to beat Royval, they're going to have to work for it — just ask Van, who did so in their Fight of the Year contender this past June.
The time feels like it's now or never for the 32-year-old Kape, so I'm trusting him to rise to this occasion and potentially lean on his wrestling when needed. He's historically been the more calculated and precise striker, which can help and hurt him against someone like Royval. There are a variety of directions, twists and turns this matchup can take, but presumably, the wars will catch up to Royval eventually.
Don't be surprised if we see another Royval upset. It's just that when Kape is on, boy is he on.
Pick: Kape
145 pounds: Giga Chikadze (+240) vs. Kevin Vallejos (-300)
UFC Vegas 112's co-main event is a classic “veteran striker vs. rising wildcard” pairing, but the margins are thinner than the odds suggest.
Chikadze’s return to form hinges on his ability to reclaim his sniper rhythm and utilize long kicks, angles and his trademark “Giga kick.” We all love the "Giga kick," right? Those weapons force opponents to fight at his pace. When he’s dialed in, Chikadze is one of the most efficient mid-range punishers in the division. Unfortunately, Father Time has seemingly gotten the better of him in recent outings — 37 years old isn't "old," but this is a dude who's lived through two combat sports careers, competing at the highest level of kickboxing before committing to MMA.
Vallejos, though, is pure volatility — high pace, long combinations, constant feints and a willingness to walk through fire to get exchanges started. He’s faster, more dynamic and far more chaotic than most of Chikadze’s recent opponents. The big question is durability. Can he pressure without getting sliced apart on his entries?
If Chikadze keeps his distance, dictates the rhythm and forces Vallejos into single shots, it’s his fight. Vallejos can easily turn this into a scramble-heavy, rhythm-breaking brawl and steal what would've once been considered an upset. Because of the age gap — Vallejos still being just 24 — I lean toward youth.
Pick: Vallejos
185 pounds: César Almeida (+165) vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk (-200)
With all due respect to Cesar Almeida, I always confuse him with Cezar Ferreira and question how he's still in the UFC — until it hits me that they're different people. MMA names are fun.
Anyway, Almeida's clash with Cezary Oleksiejczuk can make for a violence party. The Brazilian is a polished technician — a world-class kickboxer with clean shot selection, brutal leg kicks and the composure of someone who’s been in far deeper striking waters, as indicated by his kickboxing background. Once he gets in his preferred range, he chips opponents apart piece by piece.
Oleksiejczuk, on the other hand, brings the exact kind of chaos that can crack a stylistic specialist. He’s aggressive, awkward, unpredictable and far more dangerous in extended exchanges than his record suggests. His willingness to blitz and throw off-timed combinations has the potential to make elite middleweight strikers uncomfortable. The man carries real finishing power.
Almeida’s precision should shine early, but the forceful Oleksiejczuk will crash his way into the pocket, disrupting the rhythm and making Almeida defend more than he’d like.
Pick: Oleksiejczuk
145 pounds: Melquizael Costa (-115) vs. Morgan Charrière (-105)
Here's one of those fights that, as fight fans, we never knew we needed until it was booked.
Melquizael Costa vs. Morgan Charrière is a good “discipline vs. chaos-but-make-it-charming” featherweight matchup. Costa wants a clean, orderly kickboxing fight where everything stays at his preferred range and nobody does anything silly. Charrière, by comparison, tends to do exactly the things Costa hates. He'll crowd the pocket, break rhythm, and turn exchanges into mini avalanches once he starts to cook. Though, as seen in Costa's win over Julian Erosa, he's grown capable of weathering storms.
If Costa can keep it neat, he wins. If Charrière turns it into a mildly unhinged pressure fest, he steals the show in the only way he knows how. Unfortunately for him, Costa has built some serious momentum with four straight wins, each better than the last.
It's a sneaky banger, and one of those fights where the vibes may matter as much as the technique.
Pick: Costa
265 pounds: Kennedy Nzechukwu (-135) vs. Marcus Buchecha (+110)
How bad is it that a breakdown for practically every unranked heavyweight fight feels pointless? It's not great, I'll admit that much.
Well, we're in that boat again here. The world-class jiu-jitsu wizard Marcus Buchecha has the advantage if the fight hits the mat, at least one would think. (Martin Buday says hello from the sidelines.)
Kennedy Nzechukwu has been your typical, more athletic, smaller heavyweight who's excelled since dropping the hassle of his weight cuts to 205 pounds. He's fully capable of shutting Buchecha's lights off — but that Valter Walker heel hook loss in his last fight is hard to forget.
Yes, yes, yes. Walker has become the new heavyweight Rousimar Palhares, to an extent. But Buchecha is Buchecha. Will Nzechukwu have sharpened his submission defense over the past six months? Will it be enough to survive against an all-time talent like Buchecha? I'm not so sure.
Pick: Buchecha
160 pounds: King Green (-200) vs. Lance Gibson Jr. (+165)
After years as one of Bellator's best prospects, Lance Gibson Jr. has arrived in the UFC.
Here's a fun little story that sets the table for how badly Gibson wanted this opportunity. During UFC Vancouver fight week, regional promotion BFL held an event that was attended by UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby — and yours truly. Someone close to Gibson saw that I was going and asked if either Shelby or Mick Maynard would be there. Once it was confirmed they would be, Gibson drove an hour to attend the event solely to shoot his shot. Clearly, it paid off.
Gibson, 30, like his father and step-mother, Lance Gibson Sr. and Julia Budd, is refined in his wrestling craft. The man delivers thumping ground-and-pound and grabs a submission whenever available. On the feet, he's progressed over time, but obviously he'll be a step behind the seasoned King Green, who's always fancied himself a fire-fight.
The experience difference is the clear concern for Gibson in a matchup like this, but the short-notice nature arguably helps him. Along with that, Green is 39 years old and has been wearing the age brutally during his latest 1-3 slump. As long as Gibson strays away from trying to prove his striking acumen against Green, this should be the best first UFC win he could have asked for.
Pick: Gibson
Preliminary Notes
Not only is Gibson's arrival in the UFC noteworthy, but so is the long-awaited arrival of former Bellator welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov. It's disgustingly outrageous that the 28-1 Ukrainian dynamo is buried on the prelims like this, especially in a matchup tailor-made for him to shine. That's no disrespect to Neil Magny, but that's just where we are. However, knowing Magny, he's well-equipped to completely shut down those sentiments in a flash.
Circling back to UFC Vancouver, Melissa Croden made her presence felt at the Canadian showcase event. It was a strong performance from the 34-year-old, and I'm going to say it: She appears to have "that dog" in her. Luana Santos is no easy challenge, though, so it's a good sophomore UFC matchup for the Canadian prospect.
Amanda Lemos vs. Gillian Robertson is also a big contender matchup at strawweight. So keep your eyes peeled, Mackenzie Dern. Lemos has a win over the current champion, after all.
Quick picks:
Amanda Lemos (+165) def. Gillian Robertson (-200)
Joanderson Brito (-225) def. Isaac Thomson (+180)
Yaroslav Amosov (-450) def. Neil Magny (+340)
Sean Sharaf (+180) def. Steven Asplund (-220)
Melissa Croden (+105) def. Luana Santos (-125)
Guilherme Pat (-185) def. Allen Frye (+150)
Tereza Bledá (-145) def. Jamey-Lyn Horth (+120)
Category: General Sports
