Brandon Royval, Manel Kape Set for UFC Fight Night Main Event

The UFC has confirmed that former title challenger Brandon Royval will face Manel Kape in the main event of UFC Fight Night 253 on March 1 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, a bout expected to determine the next flyweight title contender. Kape (20-7) is coming off a TKO victory over Bruno Gustavo da Silva and is keen to reclaim momentum after a prior loss to Muhammad Mokaev. Meanwhile, Royval (17-7) seeks to build on his recent split-decision wins over former champion Brandon Moreno and rising star Tatsuro Taira. Both fighters have publicly expressed their intention to secure a title shot, with Kape asserting dominance in their matchup. This fight is viewed as a crucial step for both athletes in their quest for the flyweight championship after Royval's previous title bouts against Alexandre Pantoja. The promotion has yet to finalize contracts, but the matchup has garnered significant attention across social media platforms.