Manel Kape made quite a statement that a title fight should be next after he flattened Brandon Royval with a devastating knockout in the first round in the main event at UFC Vegas 112.
It was a stunning performance from Kape, who showed no fear taking on a known finisher like Royval. After a few exchanges on the feet, Kape finally saw his opening to jump into a combination and it was a short right hand that blasted Royval and sent him crashing to the canvas.
Kape followed up with a few more punches and Royval was knocked unconscious momentarily until the next shot woke him up again. The referee rushed in to rescue Royval with the end coming at just 3:18 into the opening round.
With the win, Kape sent an emphatic message to new UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van after he claimed the belt at UFC 323 following a freak injury suffered by Alexandre Pantoja.
“Now we’re talking,” Kape said looking directly into the camera. “Joshua Van, you thought Brandon Royval would do something. Now you have my belt. If I didn’t break my foot in July, I would be the champion now.
“I’m here. Your daddy’s going to take your diapers. Be ready. Let’s fight in Houston in February. Just sign the contract. Just be ready. Nobody can f*cking deny the belt. I’m the f*cking best.”
In a battle of strikers, Royval actually set the tone early with a couple of nasty body kicks while Kape was the aggressor moving forward and trying to cut off the cage. Royval kept backing up and that was exactly what Kape wanted as he set up his combinations.
Following a couple of exchanges, Kape finally saw the opening he wanted as he surged forward and trapped Royval against the cage as he unloaded a perfectly timed right hand that landed flush. Royval’s head snapped back and he crumbled to the canvas.
Kape continued firing shots until Royval went out with the referee jumping in to stop the contest. While Royval was seemingly woken up by one of the final punches landed, he was obviously very wobbly when attempting to get back to his feet after Kape delivered the knockout blow.
After the win, Kape admitted he didn’t actually have a strategy that would lead to the finish but the knockout came just the same.
“There is no game plan,” Kape said. “Brandon Royval just has to step into the cage and I will do the rest. This is beautiful violence. Where I touch, you guys die. Where I touch, coma. Where I touch, hospital I’m the most dangerous man in this division. I’m different. Just pay attention. I’m coming for my belt.”
Now the UFC has a decision to make about what comes next for Van, especially if Pantoja is going to be sidelined for some time with the injury he suffered at UFC 323. Kape clearly made quite a statement with his win on Saturday and Tatsuro Taira did the same after he finished former champion Brandon Moreno.
It’s likely one of those two are going to get the next shot when Van is ready to defend his flyweight title in 2026.
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