UFC Vegas 112: Royval vs. Kape Main Event Betting Predictions & Odds

After a massive UFC 323 event that saw more than its fair share of fireworks and upsets, the promotion returns to the cozy confines of the UFC Apex in Vegas for UFC Vegas 112. Their home away from home. And while, like most events at the Apex, this won’t be the most star-studded of cards, the main event promises to be a cracker.

The headliner on December 13 will be a ranked flyweight battle between top six contenders: No. 2 Brandon Royval, a former title challenger, and No. 6 Manel Kape, who could get his first shot at the belt with a win here. While Kape is the lower ranked fighter, he is a big favorite to win this bout. Read on for our fight analysis and betting predictions for the main event at UFC Vegas 112!

Note: None of our best bets feature odds shorter than -200.

UFC Vegas 112 Main Event Picks & Betting Odds - December 13

All odds provided by Betway.

No. 2 Brandon Royval vs. No. 6 Manel Kape Flyweight Bout Betting Odds

Brandon Royval (17-8) comes into this fight with a significant advantage over his opponent: he’s been fighting the best of the division for a couple of years now. Meanwhile, Manel Kape (21-7), is just arriving in the big time. This will be Royval’s fourth main event or championship fight in his last five appearances. Kape has only ever headlined one event before this.

Kape, a 32-year-old from Angola who’s fighting out of Thailand, is the younger man by one year. However, at 5’5”, he’s also four inches shorter than Royval, who is almost lanky for a flyweight.

Royval has gone 2-2 in his last four fights, including a unanimous decision loss to Joshua Van in his last fight in June. Meanwhile, Kape is coming in with a two-fight winning streak and has won six of his last seven, including a TKO-retirement win over Asu Almabayev in his most recent bout in March.

And that retirement came after three rounds, meaning Kape has never fought more than 15 minutes. With this one scheduled for five rounds, that give the tough-as-nails Royval the edge. The Coloradan has fought five full rounds in three of his last four fights, also going the full 15 in that loss to Van.

Royval is a scrapper, a brawler. Kape may be chiseled from the stuff of Greek gods and bring a lot more power and pop in his striking, but Royval is just savvy. We believe the veteran can pick and pop his way to the final bell in this one. And that’s why we like what betting sites are giving us here on this one to go the distance.

At +140, we’re getting some great value here. Royval’s last four straight fights have all made it to the end, and he’s only been stopped twice in his career, one of which was a shoulder injury. Kape, meanwhile, has the capacity to finish guys, but he’s never been knocked out himself. Seeing as how we like Royval to win or at least push it to a decision, the “fight to go the distance” prop is our best bet here. Though Royval’s +5.5 spread at +120 odds is mighty enticing as well.

Best Bet: Fight To Go The Distance - Yes (+140)