Brandon Royval’s Injury Forces UFC Fight Night 253 Main Event Scramble

UFC Fight Night 253 has been thrown into disarray just weeks before its March 1 date, as Brandon Royval’s injury withdrawal forced the cancellation of his pivotal flyweight clash with Manel Kape. The sudden change leaves the promotion scrambling to salvage the UFC Apex event’s headline slot while disrupting the 125-pound division’s title trajectory.

 

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Main Event Collapse: Royval’s Injury Halts Title Eliminator

The highly anticipated matchup between No. 3-ranked Royval (17-7 MMA, 7-3 UFC) and No. 7 Kape (20-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) dissolved Wednesday when Royval revealed on Instagram that an undisclosed injury would prevent him from competing. “I’m facing an injury that has me questioning when I’ll be able to train again,” Royval wrote, apologizing to Kape and fans while vowing to detail the situation on his YouTube channel.

This five-round bout carried significant divisional stakes, widely seen as a de facto title eliminator for reigning champion Alexandre Pantoja’s next defense. Royval, who dropped two competitive decisions to Pantoja in 2023 and 2024, aimed to cement his case for a trilogy fight. Kape sought to extend his four-fight winning streak and secure his first UFC title shot.

The cancellation marks the second major fight fallout in 2025, following UFC 312’s commentary team shakeup earlier this week. While the rest of the Fight Night 253 card remains intact, including a bantamweight co-main event between Adrian Yanez and Jonathan Martinez, the absence of this flyweight showcase leaves a glaring competitive void.

Division in Limbo: UFC Faces Replacement Dilemma

With three weeks remaining until fight night, UFC matchmakers face tough choices. They could seek a short-notice replacement for Kape, though finding a ranked flyweight willing to face the dangerous Angolan striker on limited camp time presents challenges. Alternatively, the promotion might elevate another bout to main event status or postpone Kape’s matchup entirely.

The situation creates ripple effects throughout the flyweight division. Pantoja, who last defended his belt against Kai Asakura in December 2024, now faces uncertainty about his next challenger. Should Kape remain sidelined awaiting Royval’s recovery, contenders like Muhammad Mokaev or recent breakout star Tatsuro Taira could stake their claims through other matchups.

Royval’s injury timeline remains unclear, though his social media statement suggests a potentially extended recovery period. This setback interrupts the Coloradan’s momentum after back-to-back wins over Matheus Nicolau and Kai Kara-France revitalized his title hopes. For Kape, the eleventh-hour cancellation represents missed opportunity to leapfrog higher-ranked contenders in a division where title shots often hinge on timing as much as merit.

As UFC executives weigh their options, Fight Night 253 serves as another reminder of MMA’s precarious balance between meticulous planning and chaotic reality. The event’s restructured lineup will test both the promotion’s adaptability and the flyweight division’s depth during this unexpected shakeup.