Manel Kape walked to the scale with less than two minutes to spare on Friday morning, creating a brief moment of tension before the UFC Vegas 112 main event became official. The flyweight contender made 126 pounds for his five round bout with Brandon Royval, settling concerns rooted in his long history of weight cutting struggles.
Royval also weighed in at 126 pounds, using the one pound non title allowance. With the main event secured, UFC Vegas 112 now moves into fight night with zero weigh in withdrawals, a rare achievement for a 26 fighter lineup.
UFC Vegas 112: Relief After a Shaky Track Record
Kape’s last minute appearance was not the first time he has cut things close. He previously missed weight by three pounds against Ode Osbourne in 2021, then again by three and a half pounds for his scheduled rematch with Matheus Nicolau in 2024. The second bout never took place.
Those incidents hovered over Friday’s weigh in window, but this time, “Starboy” delivered. Now he enters Saturday’s headliner on weight and confident, telling reporters he plans to “style on” Royval and earn a title shot for 2026.
Royval vs Kape: A Fight With Title Implications
Royval sits at No. 2 in the world and previously challenged for UFC gold. Kape is ranked No. 6 and riding a wave of momentum. With the flyweight division in transition, the victor could be positioned for a championship opportunity in the early months of 2026.
The matchup carries stylistic contrast. Royval thrives in chaos, constantly hunting scrambles and submission openings. Kape brings sharp striking and explosive finishing instincts. Their first faceoff on Friday showed no tension, only quiet confidence.
Co Main Event and Feature Bouts Set Without Issue
Featherweights Giga Chikadze and Kevin Vallejos also made weight without hesitation. Chikadze looks to reaffirm his place among the division’s elite, while Vallejos enters with momentum and the kind of style that has given established contenders trouble in recent years.
Strawweights Amanda Lemos and Gillian Robertson also locked in their bout at 115.5 and 116 pounds. Lemos, a former title challenger, seeks to hold onto her spot in the top ten, while Robertson continues her steady climb through the division.
Kennedy Nzechukwu and Marcus Buchecha both cleared heavyweight limits, setting the stage for a clash between a seasoned UFC veteran and one of the most decorated grapplers ever to step into the Octagon.
King Green and Lance Gibson Jr. Official for 160
One of the most talked about additions to the card earlier this week became official when King Green and Lance Gibson Jr. both weighed in at 158.5 pounds for their 160 pound catchweight bout.
Green accepted the fight on only four days’ notice and now steps into the cage searching for a much needed rebound. With more than fifty professional appearances, he remains one of the most seasoned personalities on the roster. His transparency about both triumphs and setbacks continues to make him a compelling figure.
Gibson Jr. enters with a 9 and 1 record and carries the unique distinction of becoming part of the third father and son pair in UFC history. His debut arrives with intrigue, but Green remains the more familiar and emotionally rooted storyline ahead of fight night.
History Made on the Preliminary Card
Neil Magny weighed in at 171 pounds for his welterweight clash with former Bellator champion Yaroslav Amosov. With this appearance, Magny inches closer to the all time UFC fight total held by Jim Miller, Andrei Arlovski and Donald Cerrone.
Amosov, meanwhile, enters as one of the most accomplished fighters ever to debut in the UFC. His undefeated run in Bellator and well rounded skill set make Saturday’s fight one of the most anticipated on the undercard.
Heavyweight newcomer Steven Asplund also completed his remarkable journey to the UFC stage by weighing in at 261 pounds, nearly 240 pounds lighter than he once weighed in his early twenties. His fight against Sean Sharaf marks the culmination of one of the most dramatic transformations in recent MMA history.
With All Fighters Cleared, Only Fight Night Remains
The final UFC card of 2025 has reached the finish line of weigh in day with every matchup intact. From the high stakes flyweight main event to the debut of Yaroslav Amosov and the short notice drama surrounding King Green and Lance Gibson Jr., UFC Vegas 112 now moves into Saturday with momentum.
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