My Top 5 Moments From UFC Fight Night Kape vs Royval.

Intro.

Ding dong merrily on high it's the end of the year, and it's beeen interesting for the UFC. Sing songs aside, this year hasn't been a critical darling for the Vegas outlet. Some fights haven't lived up to their promise, as ticket prices have sky rocketed. With the stellar cards that have already been announced. I think 2026 is going to be a big year for MMA as a whole.

5. Hold Your Loved Ones Close.

This would be a theme that would run through the broadcast. The UFC's contract with ESPN is coming to an end, and this would be the last Broadcast for the company, because from January next year the UFC will be heading over to Paramount+ in a multi year billion dollar deal. This means that there ascociation with the Stuart Scott foundation was coming to an end. The Stuart Scott foundation was set up after the legendary broadcaster passed away from cancer. This is a reminder to hold your loved ones close, because you don't know what's around the corner.

4. King Greene vs Lance Gibson.

Look I respect both men, but this fight didn't do any favours for either fighter. Fairplay to Gibson for taking the fight on a few days notice, but this was a flat affair that actually stifled me, because both fighters looked uneven. King Greene got the win. I've heard some fans online say that King should be looking at a title shot in the lightweight division. I don't think it's a good idea for him, at his age of thirty nine, he will have to be starting to look at the future, and were his place lys in the UFC.

3. A Fight To Watch Out For Next Year.

The first Fight Night from the Apex next year is coming out strong for it's first headline fight. Vinicus Olivera vs Mario Bartista, oh man this is going to be a barnburner. Febuary 7th get that in the diary people.

2. Melquizad Costa Owns Morgan Charreriere.

I didn't see the fight ending this way. Melquizad Costa knocked out Morgan Charreriere with a headkick knockout. This was awesome. As I watched this take place in real time. I was amazed by the speed and accuracy of how he pulled off the move, as a men who has a karate background, the way that he crafted the kick is something that I thought was amazing. It's not easy in fights to able to generate that type of space, so to see this happen in real time blew me away.

1. Manel Kape TKO's Brandon Royval.

This was yet another excellent performance from Manel Kape. This was yet another showcase that left me reeling, because I was amazed how Manel broke the distance and was able to pull of the knockout. This reminded me of how Anderson Silva did the same thing when he beat Chris Leben nearly twenty years ago. He broke down the distance in the first round, and this gave him the chance to own Brandon, and make him look like an amiture. Just like The Spider. I think the UFC have something special with this guy.