Joshua Van proved he is fearless of Manel Kape by accepting calls for a UFC flyweight title showdown in less than two months' time.

Kape made his case for a crack at gold on Saturday with a first-round TKO of Brandon Royval in the UFC on ESPN 73 main event. Afterward, he unleashed on the champ, claiming that Van (15-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) is "scared" and promising to be the "worst nightmare in his life" until they meet inside the cage.

After Van won the 125-belt belt in unceremonious fashion at UFC 323 this month with a 26-second injury TKO result against Alexandre Pantoja, the major question has been if Pantoja will be healthy soon enough for an immediate rematch, or if another contender such as Kape or Tatsuro Taira will slide in for an opportunity.

It's clear Van is willing to put that belt up to grabs soon, and said he's happy to meet Kape's proposed timeline for a matchup at UFC Fight Night 266 on Feb. 7 in Houston, the city where Van currently resides (via X):

Houston TX @ManelKape
Let’s run it! Talk is cheap @ufc

— Joshua Van (@JoshuaVanBT) December 14, 2025

The UFC Fight Night 266 card at Toyota Center already has an announced main event in the form of ex-middleweight champion Sean Strickland against Anthony Hernandez.

It remains to be seen if the promotion would be willing to bump that fight in favor of Van vs. Kape, which would mark the rare instance of a UFC title fight on a non-numbered event.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Joshua Van responds to Manel Kape's call for UFC title in Houston

Manel Kape said he was going to make it look easy against Brandon Royval, and made good on that promise.

In the final fight of the year, Kape (22-7 MMA, 7-3 UFC) took on a high-stakes matchup against former title challenger Brandon Royval in the main event of UFC on ESPN 73 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. While it wasn't explicitly labeled as a No. 1 contender bout, there was an opportunity to make a case with a strong enough performance. Well, it doesn't get much better than a brutal first-round knockout, which Kape pulled off, leaving Royval (17-9 MMA, 7-5 UFC) on the canvas at 3:18.

Kape put the pressure on from the beginning of the fight, but didn't necessarily rush things. He studied how Royval responded to his movements, and countered his opponent's shots well. He then found an opening for a crushing right hand that dropped Royval, and the follow-up swarm marked the finish to the bout as referee Herb Dean rushed in.

HE WILL NOT BE DENIED.@ManelKape ends 2025 with a show-stopping R1 TKO! #UFCVegas112pic.twitter.com/f50LAA8kT4

— UFC (@ufc) December 14, 2025

Now on a three-fight winning streak, Kape turned his attention to the recently crowned flyweight champ Joshua Van.

"You replaced my place, now you have my belt," Kape said during his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. "If I didn't break my feet in July, I would be the champion right now. Now, baby, listen very well: I'm here. Your daddy. Your daddy is gonna take your diapers."

Kape suggested the two meet for a flyweight title fight on Feb. 21 at the UFC Fight Night event in Houston. Not only is the city Van's backyard, but it's also where Kape got his first UFC win, so he has fond memories and wants to make more.

"Nobody can deny my belt," Kape said. "I'm the best here. I'm the f*cking best."

Kape ties the longest active UFC knockout streak with three, matching Ilia Topuria, Ateba Gautier, Michael Morales and Azamat Murzakanov.

For Royval, the result marks back-to-back losses. After losing a decision against Alexandre Pantoja for the title at UFC 296, he rebounded with two split decision wins against Brandon Moreno and Tatsuro Taira, but has now lost two to Van and Kape.

Full UFC on ESPN 73 results include:

• Manel Kape def. Brandon Royval via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:18
• Kevin Vallejos def. Giga Chikadze via KO (punches) – Round 2, 1:29
• Melquizael Costa def. Morgan Charriere via knockout (head kick) – Round 1, 1:14
• Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Buchecha ends in unanimous draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28)
• King Green def. Lance Gibson Jr. via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Yaroslav Amosov def. Neil Magny via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 1, 3:14
• Joanderson Brito def. Isaac Thomson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Steven Asplund def. Sean Sharaf via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:49
• Luana Santos def. Melissa Croden via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Guilherme Pat def. Allen Frye Jr. via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Jamey-Lyn Horth def. Tereza Bleda via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:05

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Vegas 112: Manel Kape floors Brandon Royval in opening round

Melquizael Costa closed out a career year in electric fashion at UFC on ESPN 73 with a devastating head kick knockout against Morgan Charriere.

Costa (25-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC) became the first to stop Charriere (21-12-1 MMA, 3-3 UFC) with strikes in MMA competition when in the first round of the featherweight bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, he landed a precious left head kick that broke the guard of his opponent and instantly put him unconscious at the 1:14 mark of Round 1.

It was a thrilling performance to put a cap on a 4-0 year for Costa, and you can watch the reply of the highlight finish below (via X):

THAT JUST HAPPENED 🤯@MelkCostaCauthy makes quick work with a RD 1 KO!

[ #UFCVegas112 is live NOW on the @ESPN app ] pic.twitter.com/rDfJtqcOF0

— UFC (@ufc) December 14, 2025

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With a six-fight winning streak overall at 145 pounds, Costa trails only Lerone Murphy (nine) and Movsar Evloev (eight) for runs of consecutive victories in the weight class.

After the performance that put him alongside Joshua Van as the only UFC fighters to go 4-0 in 2025, Costa said he is looking to carry his momentum into an even bigger year in 2026.

"This year I've been working a lot," Costa said in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. "I want the top 15 (in 2026), then a top 10 then the last of the year, the belt."

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 73 results include:

• Melquizael Costa def. Morgan Charriere via knockout (head kick) – Round 1, 1:14
• Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Buchecha ends in unanimous draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28)
• King Green def. Lance Gibson Jr. via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Yaroslav Amosov def. Neil Magny via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 1, 3:14
• Joanderson Brito def. Isaac Thomson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Steven Asplund def. Sean Sharaf via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:49
• Luana Santos def. Melissa Croden via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Guilherme Pat def. Allen Frye Jr. via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Jamey-Lyn Horth def. Tereza Bleda via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:05

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Vegas 112 video: Melquizael Costa closes 4-0 year with vicious KO

Former Bellator champion Yaroslav Amosov is now a winning UFC fighter after an excellent debut in the promotion.

In the feature prelim of UFC on ESPN 73 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Amosov (29-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) took on welterweight mainstay Neil Magny. Amosov took a few moments to figure out Magny (31-14 MMA, 24-13 UFC), and ended the fight in the first round by submission at 3:14.

As all fights begin, there were a few striking exchanges on the feet to start, and Amosov was willing to exchange. Hwoever, he saw an opening along the fence for the clinch, and scored a trip takedown. From there, Amosov worked in a few punches as he transitioned into an anaconda choke, trapping Magny and forcing a tap.

Check out video of the finish below (via Instagram):

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Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 73 results include:

• Yaroslav Amosov def. Neil Magny via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 1, 3:14
• Joanderson Brito def. Isaac Thomson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Steven Asplund def. Sean Sharaf via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:49
• Luana Santos def. Melissa Croden via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Guilherme Pat def. Allen Frye Jr. via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Jamey-Lyn Horth def. Tereza Bleda via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:05

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Vegas 112: Yaroslav Amosov wins debut in first round

Cesar Almeida and Cezary Oleksiejczuk meet on the UFC on ESPN 73 main card Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.

Last event: 2-2-1

UFC main cards, 2025: 120-86-3

Cesar Almeida vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk UFC on ESPN 73 preview

Almeida (7-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has seen good results since joining the UFC in April 2024, winning three of his four appearances. The 37-year-old has won two in a row and will look to pick up momentum off a knockout of Abdul Razak Alhassan back in January.

Oleksiejczuk (16-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is making his UFC debut roughly three months after earning his contract on Dana White's Contender in September. The 25-year-old will enter on a four-fight winning streak.

Cesar Almeida vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk UFC on ESPN 73 expert pick, prediction

Aside from the matchmakers showing their sense of humor by booking back-to-back weeks of first-name parity fights, Cesar Almeida vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk should be fun for as long as it lasts.

Despite Almeida and Oleksiejczuk having some underrated competency on the floor, both parties prefer sorting things out on the feet. 

Almeida, who tends to start slow and get his reads, has steadily been translating the slickster stylings that served him well in his kickboxing career. The potential problem, however, is that said style has allowed him to be caught cold and stunned early in his MMA fights.

Should Almeida press his luck and get caught cold against a puncher as fast and as powerful as Oleksiejczuk early, then none of us should be shocked if it's enough to finally crack the Brazilian's vaunted durability.

Still, as deceptive as Oleksiejczuk's experience might be, I have a hard time backing a relatively unproven fighter whose primary win conditions are first-round knockouts.

It feels like a risky pick, but I'll side with the older fighter in Almeida to survive the initial storm en route to a somewhat surprising win on the scorecards. 

Cesar Almeida vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk UFC on ESPN 73 odds

Despite the oddsmakers initially opening the Brazilian as a moderate favorite, public money has flipped the line in the Polish fighter's favor, listing Oleksiejczuk -220 and Almeida +176 via FanDuel.

Cesar Almeida vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk UFC on ESPN 73 start time, how to watch

Almeida and Oleksiejczuk are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 11:30 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts live on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Vegas 112: Almeida vs. Oleksiejczuk prediction, start time