UFC on ESPN 73 live results: Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape
The final UFC event of 2025, as well as the final event for the UFC on ESPN as their media rights deal comes to an end, sees UFC On ESPN 73 take place inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
The main event is a five-round bout in the flyweight division that could see potential title shot implications as former title challenger Brandon Royval battles Manel Kape. Royval is coming off a loss to new flyweight champion Joshua Van in an incredible fight in June, and is looking to break back into the win column. Kape has won two straight fights.
In the co-main event, 15th-ranked Giga Chikadze battles Kevin Vallejos in featherweight action. Also on the main card is a middleweight bout between Cesar Almeida and Cezary Oleksiejczuk; a featherweight fight pitting Melquizael Costa against Morgan Charriere; and a catchweight fight between long-time veteran King Green and former Bellator fighter Lance Gibson Jr. in his UFC debut.
On the prelims, an intriguing name is making his UFC debut as former Bellator Welterweight Champion Yaroslav Amosov, sporting a 28-1 record, debuts against the all-time wins leader in the UFC welterweight division, Neil Magny.
UPDATE: A women’s strawweight bout between Amanda Lemos and Gillian Robertson has been scratched from the card due to a medical issue for Lemos.
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> Women’s Flyweights- Jamey-Lyn Horth (8-2, 3-2 UFC) vs. Tereza Bleda (7-1, 1-1 UFC)
They both look to land and Bleda looks for a takedown, but Horth defends and they start trading at a distance. Bleda shoots for a takedown against the fence but Horth is defending. They end up separating and Horth is landing big shots and Bleda is in a lot of trouble. Horth continues to land big and Bleda looks like she is going out and it is stopped! What a finish from Horth!
Fight Result- Jamey-Lyn Horth def. Tereza Bleda by TKO (punches) at 2:05 of Round 1
> Heavyweights- Allen Frye (6-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Guilherme Pat (5-0, 0-0 UFC)
They clinch right up as Frye pushes Pat against the fence and lands an elbow. Frye with some elbows and knees agains the fence. Pat lands an elbow with his back on the fence and they separate. Pat lands a combination. Pat lands a big combo and Frye is already cut open under his eye. Pat with a left hook to the body followed by a right hand. They trade and Frye pushes it against the fence and lands some knees. They break apart and Pat lands a stiff right hand. Pat lands at the end. 10-9 Pat.
They trade and Pat lands a big right hand before they clinch. Pat with an elbow. They separate and Pat lands a left hand then a double jab followed by a right hand. They tie back up and Frye pushes it to the fence. Pat gets the underhooks but Frye pushes him back against the fence. Frye with a short uppercut but he is mostly just leaning on Pat as they break apart. Frye lands the jab. Pat with a left hand. Pat lands a big combination. Frye looks for a takedown but Pat is defending. They break apart. Pat lands a leg kick. 10-9 Pat, 20-18 Pat.
Pat lands some big shots to start the round and has Frye in trouble. Pat is pouring it on with right hands and Frye is able to get the clinch. They’re just holding onto each other though Frye lands a couple of knees. They separate. They immediately clinch right back up. Pat lands a pair of short right hooks from in the clinch. Pat lands an elbow as they break and Frye lands a short left hand. Pat lands a big combo and Frye immediately grabs ahold of him and they go to the fence. Frye with some knees and they break apart. Pat lands some big shots and a knee to the body as they tie right back up. Pat with a left hand and an elbow. 10-9 Pat, 30-27 Pat.
Fight Result- Guilherme Pat def. Allen Frye by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Women’s Bantamweights- Melissa Croden (7-2, 1-0 UFC) vs. #15 Luana Santos (9-2, 4-1 UFC)
They trade leg kicks and Croden connects with a pair of right hands. Santos lands a heavy calf kick and a right hand. Santos looks for a takedown and both land a knee, but Santos is able to score the takedown and has the scarf hold against the fence. Croden looking for the back and she has it as Santos lets go of the neck. They separate to the center. Croden lands a combo followed by a heavy body kick. Santos grabs the body lock and pushes it against the fence. They trade knees. 10-9 Croden.
They trade jabs and Croden lands a body kick as Santos was looking for a spinning attack. They trade inside the pocket. Santos grabs the body lock as Croden is pushing away, but they go to the fence. Croden with some short punches. Santos is trying for the takedown but Croden is defending and landing short punches. Santos gets a takedown. Santos is trying to pass guard but Croden is keeping her in the guard. Santos with some elbows to the body from the half-guard. Croden gets Santos back inside of her guard. They both land on the mat. Santos attacks the leg late. 10-9 Santos, 19-19.
Croden lands a head kick that Santos blocks. Croden with an inside leg kick and lands before Santos gets the clinch against the fence. They separate and Croden lands a combination. Santos quickly grabs the head and scores a takedown. Santos has head control and lands a pair of punches. Santos with some more punches as she keeps the head lock locked on. Santos keeps it locked on and is applying lots of pressure. Santos lands some more punches. 10-9 Santos, 29-28 Santos.
Fight Result- Luana Santos def. Melissa Croden by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
> Heavyweights- Sean Sharaf (4-1, 0-1 UFC) vs. Steven Asplund (6-1, 0-0 UFC)
They’re both landing big shots early as Sharaf lands a left hand and Asplund lands some right hands. Sharaf lands a big right hand. Asplund lands a jab as Sharaf lands a leg kick. Asplund with a heavy leg kick. They trade right hands in the pocket. Sharaf lands a right hand. Asplund lands a big right hand and they both land in close range. Sharaf lands a combo. Asplund with a hard calf kick. They trade punches. Sharaf with a small flurry and Asplund lands a big right hand. Sharaf is cut open between the eyes. Asplund lands a right hand. Asplund lands some big shots. Sharaf with a left hand. He lands to the body but his face is a mess. Asplund with a right hand followed by a big uppercut. Asplund rocks Sharaf with a left hand and starts landing but backs away. Asplund slips on a kick. Asplund lands a combo late. 10-9 Asplund.
Asplund working the jab to start the round. Sharaf lands a big right hand and they trade against the fence. Sharaf’s face remains a mess. He shoots for a takedown but misses by a mile. Asplund with a series of shots. They trade big shots inside the pocket. Asplund with a big combo. Asplund lands but then lands a big groin strike on Sharaf and time out is called. They get back to action. Asplund lands a jab and Sharaf lands a right hand. They are both wearing Sharaf’s blood. Asplund hurts Sharaf with a right hand. Asplund landing against the fence but Sharaf fires back with some big shots. Asplund pouring on the volume against the fence. Asplund lands some clean shots and Sharaf is on shaky legs. Asplund with a big right hand and some more punches. Asplund is landing lots of shots and he finally ends it with a big right hand! What a finish from Asplund!
Fight Result- Steven Asplund def. Sean Sharaf by TKO (punches) at 3:49 of Round 2
> Featherweights- Joanderson Brito (17-5-1, 5-3 UFC) vs. Isaac Thomson (9-2, 0-0 UFC)
> Welterweights- Neil Magny (31-13, 24-12 UFC) vs. Yaroslav Amosov (28-1, 0-0 UFC)
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> 160-pound Catchweights- King Green (32-17-1 1 NC, 13-12-1 1 NC UFC) vs. Lance Gibson Jr. (9-1, 0-0 UFC)
> Heavyweights- Kennedy Nzechukwu (14-6, 8-6 UFC) vs. Marcus Buchecha (5-2, 0-1 UFC)
> Featherweights- Melquizael Costa (24-7, 5-2 UFC) vs. Morgan Charriere (21-11-1, 3-2 UFC)
> Middleweights- Cesar Almeida (7-1, 3-1 UFC) vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk (16-3, 0-0 UFC)
> Featherweights- #15 Giga Chikadze (15-5, 8-3 UFC) vs. Kevin Vallejos (16-1, 2-0 UFC)
> Flyweights- #2 Brandon Royval (17-8, 7-4 UFC) vs. #6 Manel Kape (21-7, 6-3 UFC)
MMA writer & live coverage specialist, contributor to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter