UFC on ESPN 73: Royval vs. Kape – Start Time, Fight Cards, Weigh-In

UFC on ESPN 73 also known as UFC Vegas 112: Royval vs. Kape is set to close out 2025 with a bang, delivering a fully loaded card live from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas. Scheduled for Sunday, December 14 (BST), this event promises high-paced matchups, top-15 showdowns, and a flyweight main event that fans have been waiting almost a year for.

Whether you’re following the rankings, betting odds, or just tuning in for the action, here’s your complete overview of the card, start times, and storylines to watch before fight night.

Event Details at a Glance

• Event: UFC on ESPN 73: Royval vs. Kape
• Date: Sunday, December 14 (BST)
• Venue: UFC Apex, Las Vegas, USA
• Main Card Start Time: 9:00 AM BST
• Prelims Start Time: 6:00 AM BST
• Main Event: Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape (Flyweight)

UFC on ESPN 73 Global Start Times (Country + Major City)

Event Date:

• U.S. Time: Saturday, December 13, 2025

• Asia/Europe Time: Sunday, December 14, 2025

✅ Main Card Start Time by Country & Major Cities

Prelims Start Time by Country & Major Cities

Main Event: Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape (Flyweight)

If you love chaos, speed, and scrambles, this is your kind of flyweight matchup. Brandon Royval and Manel Kape were booked twice before, but injuries and withdrawals kept delaying their clash. Now, finally, they headline the UFC’s final card of 2025.

Royval enters with a “kill or be killed” style—he’s a fighter who jumps into submissions, reversals, and wild exchanges without hesitation. His resume is a mix of highlight wins and razor-close losses, but he remains one of the most dangerous finishers in the division.

Kape is the opposite flavor of chaos: sharp, explosive, and calculated. When he switches into blitz mode, opponents often don’t survive. He’s on a strong run and has been pushing toward another shot at flyweight gold.

Why this fight matters:
This matchup could determine the next top contender in 2026. The UFC flyweight division continues to heat up, and a strong finish here puts either man one win away from a title opportunity.

Co-Main Event: Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Tereza Bleda (Women’s Flyweight)

The co-main brings an intriguing clash of styles. Jamey-Lyn Horth brings pressure, volume, and cardio, while Tereza Bleda enters with dangerous grappling and top control. Originally scheduled for earlier in the year, this matchup finally lands here after injuries shuffled the deck.

Both fighters are trying to climb firmly into the division’s top 15, making this a high-stakes spot.

Featured Women’s Strawweight Bout: Amanda Lemos vs. Gillian Robertson

This is one of the sleeper fights of the card. Amanda Lemos—former title challenger—brings explosive striking and finishing power. On the other side, Gillian Robertson is one of the UFC’s most seasoned submission hunters.

It’s classic striker vs. grappler, but both have evolved significantly in 2025. If Lemos keeps the fight standing, she has the edge. If Robertson drags it down, she can choke out anyone in the top 10.

Giga Chikadze vs. Kevin Vallejos (Featherweight)

Giga Chikadze once looked like a future title challenger before injuries slowed his run. Now, he returns against Kevin Vallejos, a rising Argentine talent with an impressive 16-1 record.

This fight could be a passing-of-the-torch moment—or a resurgence story. Giga still has elite kicks and experience against top-tier competition, but Vallejos brings youth, confidence, and momentum.

Heavyweight Showdown: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida

This matchup is pure heavyweight chaos. Kennedy Nzechukwu is known for late-round comebacks and crisp striking. Marcus Buchecha Almeida is a world-class grappler with multiple ADCC titles and growing MMA confidence.

If Buchecha gets this fight to the ground, it’s trouble for anyone. If Nzechukwu keeps the fight standing, Buchecha’s chin and defense will be tested.

Joanderson Brito vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan (Featherweight)

This one has “Fight of the Night” written all over it. Brito is pressure-heavy and explosive; Melsik is technical with knockout power. Expect violent exchanges, forward pressure, and a fast pace right from the bell.

More Main Card & Prelim Highlights

Here’s the rest of the stacked lineup for UFC on ESPN 73:

Main Card Fighters

• Amanda Lemos vs. Gillian Robertson (Strawweight)
• Melissa Croden vs. Luana Santos (Women’s Bantamweight)
• Giga Chikadze vs. Kevin Vallejos (Featherweight)
• Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Buchecha (Heavyweight)
• Joanderson Brito vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan (Featherweight)

Prelims Worth Watching

• Melquizael Costa vs. Morgan Charrière – Featherweight showdown between two dynamic strikers.
• César Almeida vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk – Middleweight battle with real finishing potential.
• Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Tereza Bleda – Important women’s flyweight fight with ranking implications.
• Luana Santos vs. Melissa Croden – A hard-hitting bantamweight matchup.
• Joanderson Brito vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan – Must-watch fireworks.
• Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Buchecha – Heavyweight chess match vs chaos.

Full Fight Card

Main Event

• Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape (Flyweight)

Main Card

• Amanda Lemos vs. Gillian Robertson
• Melissa Croden vs. Luana Santos
• Giga Chikadze vs. Kevin Vallejos
• Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Buchecha
• Joanderson Brito vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan

Prelims

• Melquizael Costa vs. Morgan Charrière
• César Almeida vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk
• Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Tereza Bleda
• Additional heavyweight bouts (Asplund, Sharaf, Frye, Pat) also appear on the prelim listing.

UFC on ESPN 73 (UFC Vegas 112): Weigh-In Results

All 24 fighters successfully made weight for UFC on ESPN 73, which takes place tonight, December 13, 2025, at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas. This card marks the final UFC event of 2025 and the promotion’s final broadcast on ESPN.

The main event is official, with top flyweight contenders Brandon Royval and Manel Kape both hitting the mark at 126 lbs.

Main Card

(10:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM PT on ESPN2/ESPN+)

Main Event (Flyweight): Brandon Royval (126) vs. Manel Kape (126)

Featherweight: Giga Chikadze (146) vs. Kevin Vallejos (145)

Middleweight: Cesar Almeida (186) vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk (185.5)

Featherweight: Morgan Charrière (145.5) vs. Melquizael Costa (145.5)

Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu (243) vs. Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida (251.5)

Catchweight (160 lbs): King Green (158.5) vs. Lance Gibson Jr. (158.5)

Preliminary Card

(7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT on ESPN+)

Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Lemos (115.5) vs. Gillian Robertson (116)

Featherweight: Joanderson Brito (145.5) vs. Isaac Thomson (146)

Welterweight: Neil Magny (171) vs. Yaroslav Amosov (171)

Heavyweight: Sean Sharaf (251) vs. Steven Asplund (261)

Women’s Bantamweight: Luana Santos (136) vs. Melissa Croden (136)

Heavyweight: Allen Frye (242) vs. Guilherme Pat (238)

Women’s Flyweight: Jamey-Lyn Horth (126) vs. Tereza Bledá (126)

Key Notes

• Clean Scale: There were no weight misses for this event; all fighters hit their contracted weights.

• Catchweight: The bout between King Green and Lance Gibson Jr. was agreed upon as a 160-lb catchweight fight.

Final Thoughts

UFC on ESPN 73 is more than just another Fight Night—it’s a milestone event marking the UFC’s final ESPN broadcast before the 2026 media rights shift. With a stacked card, a long-awaited flyweight main event, and several rising prospects looking to make a statement, this event could easily deliver one of the most entertaining nights of the year.

Whether you’re tuning in for high-level technique, wild finishes, or scouting future contenders, this card has something for every MMA fan. Expect action early, momentum swings, and at least a couple of breakout performances to close out 2025 in style.