It’s likely no small matter that the concluding UFC event of 2025 — and the last in ESPN’s alliance with the promotion — will showcase Brandon Royval in the headline bout against Manel Kape. Royval will certainly be a prominent figure later this month as media outlets compile their year-end assessments, having put on a Fight of the Year contender alongside new flyweight champion Joshua Van in June.
If you’re unfamiliar with the details, Royval was originally set to compete against Kape at UFC 317, but Kape had to pull out due to a broken foot, allowing Van to take his place on short notice. The then-23-year-old Van had just achieved a third-round knockout of Bruno Gustavo da Silva earlier that month, elevating his status in the division for a quick turnaround.
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While Van’s bold decision may have dominated the pre-fight narratives, it was Royval’s remarkable performance that evening in Las Vegas that turned out to be one of the year’s standout bouts. For three intense rounds, Royval stood toe-to-toe with Van, who is recognized as one of the top boxers in the sport.
It felt like an unending cycle of striking exchanges.
“I’ve only seen it twice, and in terms of quality, I thought it was quite impressive,” Royval remarked to Uncrowned this week. “Naturally, I’m examining it from a purely critical standpoint, analyzing everything I aimed to do. I informed my team as soon as the matchup was confirmed that I intended to box him. I wanted to engage with him in the pocket. That was my primary goal. They were firmly advising against that, of course.”
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Sometimes, taking a calculated risk is what turns someone into a fan favorite, and Royval — a former LFA champion who contested the UFC flyweight title against Alexandre Pantoja in 2023 — earned some recognition by challenging the division’s standout.
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That single fight contained more astonishing moments than some fighters experience in an entire year.
“I clearly wouldn’t have gotten dropped in the final 10 seconds [if I’d strategized better], but I wanted to engage and try to outpace him,” Royval states. “I think Joshua Van can put up big numbers against everyone else, and my intention was to out-volume him, to land more strikes. I aimed to avoid body shots and to nullify the strengths he possesses.”
The Colorado native can look back and laugh at his choice to engage so readily with a sharpshooter like Van, who secured the flyweight title at UFC 323 after Pantoja suffered an elbow dislocation early in their matchup.
“From a strategic perspective, if I were my own coach, I would’ve been quite upset with myself, thinking that was the most foolish way to compete,” Royval reflects. “I do not mean to disrespect the current champion, but I believe I’m a far superior kicker. I hold a considerable reach advantage and can operate at range much more effectively than he can, something I’ve done extensively in my career.
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“So, if we’re critical of the technical aspects, yes, I feel like I seriously messed up.”
With the flyweight division currently filled with contenders, it’s uncertain whether Royval can make up ground on Saturday against Kape at the UFC APEX for UFC Vegas 112. He was meant to face the Angolan flyweight multiple times over the past year, but injuries and health challenges have postponed the fight until now. Kape ranks a little lower in the UFC hierarchy, sitting at No. 6, while Royval is positioned at No. 2.
However, Japan’s Tatsuro Taira achieved a significant victory over Brandon Moreno this past weekend at UFC 323, placing him centrally in the shifting title landscape, and veteran Kyoji Horiguchi had a victorious return against Tagir Ulanbekov a couple of weeks ago, also giving him a claim for a title shot. Additionally, former champion Pantoja needs to recover from his serious injury before he can challenge Van again (assuming Van retains the title at that time).
None of those contenders possess the Fight of the Year credentials that Royval has. Who wouldn’t be eager to witness Royval and Van face off once more in the near future, this time with appropriate training camps?
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“I hope that happens,” Royval states, “but it seems Dana White is already looking to schedule the Tatsuro matchup, and I understand that. I’ve already lost to Van, but it was an incredible fight. The last 10 seconds were crucial in determining the loss. That being said, I already defeated Tatsuro, and I executed a similar strategy as I intended with him. I nearly submitted him; I had his back and utilized his strengths against him by finishing that fight on his back, attempting a submission.
“I don’t mean to diminish anyone in the division, at least not something I personally care about, but with that said … I think that’s the more compelling fight to arrange.”
Having competed against both Pantoja and Van previously — both of whom are known for delivering highly entertaining bouts — Royval was as disappointed as anyone that their fight concluded prematurely.
Brandon Royval delivers a knee to Joshua Van during their flyweight bout at UFC 317 at T-Mobile Arena on June 28, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
(Ian Maule via Getty Images)
“I just wanted to see how it could have unfolded, you know?” he reflects. “It’s unfortunate because it was going to be exciting. I think the opening moments were exhilarating. It had the makings of a thrilling bout. I’m not saying I’m pleased about it, because obviously no one wants to witness Pantoja’s injury, but I’m relieved they didn’t deprive us of Fight of the Year honors. I’m glad I’m still a contender for that.”
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And indeed he is.
Royval aims to extract an exciting fight from Kape to wrap up the ESPN era and 2025 with a memorable finish. He mentioned wanting to unleash “hundreds of punches on Van” during their encounter six months ago, although he’s less confident about achieving similar opportunities against “Starboy.”
Styles dictate matchups, and Royval has been meticulously preparing for this assignment for an extended period.
“I find him quite flashy, and he performs some spectacular moves against less skilled opponents, to be candid,” he comments. “However, when you examine high-level fighters who face him — like Matheus Nicolau, Muhammad Mokaev, and Pantoja — they often find the fights fairly uneventful. He appears too hesitant to commit in those situations and all that.
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“But against smaller fighters, the 5-foot-2 competitors in the division and those who don’t strike, he comes off as electrifying. I just don’t believe he’ll appear the same against me, with my length and speed and my striking skills. I can do it all. So while I acknowledge his capabilities, I’ve been focusing on preparing for this matchup for the past year. I viewed him as a sharp MMA fighter with a strong fight IQ, but I’m beginning to lose respect for him during this training camp due to his choices.”
Not that those questionable choices don’t sometimes yield positive results.
