Alexandre Pantoja (image via UFC/YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Alexandre Pantoja already holds a victory over Brandon Royval, and it sounds like Manel Kape will be shocked if the champ doesn’t defeat the challenger again at UFC 296.

Pantoja is scheduled to defend the flyweight title against Royval at the December 16th card, which is taking place in Las Vegas. Pantoja faced Royval for the first time in August 2021, and submitted him in the second round.

More recently, Kape appeared on the “Believe You Me” podcast. While discussing the upcoming championship bout, the flyweight contender made it clear he’s picking Pantoja to win (quotes via MMA Junkie.com).

“Pantoja, definitely,” Kape said. “No doubt. Pantoja’s more consistent than him, but Brandon Royval is unpredictable. This guy is not too technical, but he throws some weird stuff.

“Yes, he’s wild. I prefer a fight with someone that know how to fight than someone that don’t know how to fight. When I look at Brandon Royval, I see someone that doesn’t know how to fight.”

Since Pantoja (26-5) defeated Royval he’s won two more fights, which included claiming the flyweight title in July, by recording a split decision win over Brandon Moreno.

Royval (15-6), meanwhile, has won three in a row since he fought Pantoja. In Royval’s last outing, which also took place in July, he knocked out Matheus Nicolau.

Kape (19-6) is scheduled to fight Nicolau (19-3) for the second time on January 13th. In their initial fight in 2021, Nicolau won the bout via split decision.