UFC has had another amazing year fighting wise. To be honest it wasn’t lacking in drama either. In the aftermath of the UFC 323 event we have seen just how passionate and emotional fighters can be even after the duel is over. At times it is hard to differentiate the hardest sports out there from a soap opera. With a year almost over, and only one UFC event on the horizon in 2025, let us walk you through the most dramatic events that marked the past few weeks in the UFC.
The Rise of Fight Sports and the Bets Fans Can’t Get Enough Of
In the past few years, combat sports have exploded in popularity, and none more so than Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). With over 300 million fans worldwide, MMA has become a global phenomenon with passionate audiences in places like the UK, USA, Brazil, Singapore, and China. This worldwide reach has made it easier than ever for the sport to grow and attract new followers.
Technology has also played a big part in that growth. Not only can fans stream live events and follow their favorite fighters instantly, but they can also place bets on matches with just a few clicks.
This Week’s WHR Bets/Parlays
Both parlays still in the green!
Fights considered must satisfy all of the criteria below:
- Both fighters must be active (fought in 360 days prior to event). Reduces uncertainty.
- Both fighters must have at least 5 fights, with at least 1 draw or 1 loss (excluding debut). More data makes WHR happy.
- Both fighters must be rated in the same division as the fight. Further reduces uncertainty.
- Must have odds from at least three bookmakers.
Fight Preview: Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape
UFC on ESPN 73 — December 13, 2025
UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada
[#5 FLW | #3 UFC] Brandon Royval (17–8–0) vs. [#9 FLW | #6 UFC] Manel Kape (21–7–0)
Stylistic Breakdown
Brandon Royval
A dynamic southpaw known for his unpredictable scrambles and high-level grappling. With nine career submissions, Royval is at his most dangerous on the ground and thrives in chaotic exchanges. His cardio and pace give him an edge in longer fights, though he has shown vulnerability when opponents can control the tempo and maintain positional discipline.
Manel Kape
A powerful and accurate striker with elite speed, sharp boxing, and proven finishing ability. Kape’s stand-up presents a real threat early, as he often capitalizes on defensive lapses. While his takedown defense has improved, extended grappling sequences could still put him at risk against a submission specialist like Royval.
MMA Promoter | Event Organizer | Analyst
Founder & President of Real Fight Promotion (RFP) – one of the longest-running and most recognized MMA organizations in Ukraine. Organizer of 100+ MMA events. Contributor, analyst, and Trusted Promoter collaborating with leading global MMA platforms.
Top 10 MMA fighters of all time according to FightMatrix rankings
The world of mixed martial arts has witnessed extraordinary athletes who have pushed the boundaries of combat sports. Through rigorous statistical analysis and comprehensive data tracking, FightMatrix has established itself as one of the most respected ranking systems in MMA history. This platform evaluates fighters based on multiple factors including win-loss records, opponent quality, and career longevity to determine who truly deserves recognition among the greatest competitors ever to step into the cage.
Understanding these rankings provides valuable insight into what separates legendary fighters from merely excellent ones. The methodology combines quantitative metrics with qualitative assessments, creating a holistic view of each athlete’s career achievements and impact on the sport.
Kabdrakhmanov vs Jieleyisi 2: Fight Review and Scoring
On November 29th, 2025, [#260 FW] Nurbek Kabdrakhmanov rematched [#173 FW] Jieleyisi Baergeng for the Naiza FC featherweight championship. In their first meeting at Naiza Fighter Championship 75, Nurbek defeated Baergeng by unanimous decision to capture the vacant title.
In the rematch, Baergeng extracted his revenge on Nurbek by split decision, but not without some controversy. Many fans as well as MMA insiders thought that Kabdrakhmanov deserved to have his arm raised. In light of this controversial decision, I decided to watch and score the fight myself.
Fight Matrix Program – UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Kape (12-13-2025)
Flyweight (125)
[#5][#5UFC] Brandon Royval (17-8-0, +239) vs. [#9][#8UFC] Manel Kape (21-7-0, -297)
Brandon Royval is the All-Time #13 ranked Flyweight fighter.
Manel Kape is the All-Time #28 ranked Flyweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Brandon Royval (2-1-0)
2025-06-28: L vs. [#2DD][#5P4P][#1FLY] Joshua Van (16-2-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
2024-10-12: W vs. [#3FLY] Tatsuro Taira (18-1-0) via SD (48-47, 48-47, 47-48)
2024-02-24: W vs. [#6FLY] Brandon Moreno (23-9-2) via SD (48-47, 48-47, 46-49)
Last 3 Fights: Manel Kape (2-1-0)
2025-03-01: W vs. [#13FLY] Asu Almabayev (23-3-0) via TKO (Retirement) in 2:16 of round 3
2024-12-14: W vs. [#28FLY] Bruno Silva (15-8-2) via TKO (Body Kick and Punches) in 1:57 of round 3
2024-07-27: L vs. [#8FLY] Muhammad Mokaev (16-0-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Manel Kape | -297 | 71.71% | |
| Elo K170 | Manel Kape | 1920.99 | +5.59 | 50.81% |
| Elo Modified | Manel Kape | 1902.81 | +105.83 | 64.78% |
| Glicko-1 | Manel Kape | 1972.63 | +131.12 | 68.02% |
| WHR | Manel Kape | 1898.38 | +159.14 | 71.42% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Brandon Royval 33.3, Manel Kape 32.1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Brandon Royval 168, Manel Kape 287
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Brandon Royval leads 1-0
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Featherweight (145)
[#26][#17UFC] Giga Chikadze (15-5-0, +213) vs. [#68][#37UFC] Kevin Vallejos (16-1-0, -265)
Last 3 Fights: Giga Chikadze (1-2-0)
2025-04-26: L vs. [#25FW] David Onama (14-3-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2024-07-27: L vs. [*] Arnold Allen (20-3-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2023-08-26: W vs. [*] Alex Caceres (21-15-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Last 3 Fights: Kevin Vallejos (3-0-0)
2025-08-02: W vs. [#145FW] Danny Silva (10-2-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
2025-03-15: W vs. [#184FW] Seung Woo Choi (11-8-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:09 of round 1
2024-09-24: W vs. [#573FW] Cam Teague (9-2-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:23 of round 1
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Kevin Vallejos | -265 | 69.44% | |
| Elo K170 | Giga Chikadze | 1744.52 | +26.05 | 53.74% |
| Elo Modified | Giga Chikadze | 1743.26 | +20.24 | 52.91% |
| Glicko-1 | Giga Chikadze | 1794.55 | +27.02 | 53.88% |
| WHR | Kevin Vallejos | 1697.52 | +7.93 | 51.14% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Giga Chikadze 37.3, Kevin Vallejos 24.0
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Giga Chikadze 231, Kevin Vallejos 133
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Middleweight (185)
[#61][#38UFC] Cesar Almeida (7-1-0, +143) vs. [#66] Cezary Oleksiejczuk (16-3-0, -173)
Last 3 Fights: Cesar Almeida (2-1-0)
2025-01-11: W vs. [#111MW] Abdul Razak Alhassan (12-7-0) via KO (Punch) in 4:16 of round 1
2024-10-05: W vs. [#112MW] Ihor Potieria (25-8-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2024-06-01: L vs. [#26MW] Roman Kopylov (14-5-0) via SD (29-28, 30-27, 28-29)
Last 3 Fights: Cezary Oleksiejczuk (3-0-0)
2025-09-02: W vs. [#238MW] Theo Haig (6-1-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:36 of round 1
2025-02-15: W vs. [#76LHW] Tom Breese (20-7-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:30 of round 1
2024-10-26: W vs. [#271MW] Piotr Strus (16-10-2) via TKO (Punches) in 3:33 of round 1
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Cezary Oleksiejczuk | -173 | 60.62% | |
| Elo K170 | Cezary Oleksiejczuk | 1805.34 | +202.50 | 76.24% |
| Elo Modified | Cezary Oleksiejczuk | 1824.67 | +145.71 | 69.82% |
| Glicko-1 | Cezary Oleksiejczuk | 1914.28 | +188.01 | 74.69% |
| WHR | Cezary Oleksiejczuk | 1789.25 | +39.26 | 55.63% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Cesar Almeida 37.7, Cezary Oleksiejczuk 25.9
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Cesar Almeida 336, Cezary Oleksiejczuk 102
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Keep Reading
What MMA Fighters’ Gambling Habits Reveal About Their Mindset
Image source: Canva editor
Step into the world of mixed martial arts, and you’ll find that risk isn’t just part of the job, it’s at the core of who these fighters are. Their willingness to bet, sometimes wildly, in public or online, says a lot about how they think under pressure, how they handle losses, and wrestle with crucial decisions. Watching fighters place jaw-dropping bets isn’t just about money changing hands; it reveals patterns of personality, the same patterns that help some to rise as champions and send others toward self-inflicted chaos. The lessons from their behavior extend far past headline-grabbing losses in this resource.
Money Management Skills That Transfer From MMA to Daily Life
Mixed martial arts fighters are known for their physical strength and mental toughness inside the cage. But beyond the octagon, many MMA athletes develop strong money management habits that serve them well throughout their careers and daily lives. The financial discipline required in a sport with unpredictable paydays and the reality of career length creates practical lessons that apply far beyond fighting.
Managing money effectively is an important skill for fighters who often face irregular income streams and the need to budget for training camps, medical expenses, and life between bouts. These same principles, budgeting, planning for uncertainty, and making strategic investments, are a perfect fit for everyday financial challenges that most people encounter.
FightMatrix Rankings After UFC Qatar: Biggest Movers and the Lightweight Fallout
You go into a fight night expecting chaos. It’s the nature of the beast. But even by the volatile standards of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the recent card in Qatar felt different. It wasn’t just a collection of fights; it was a demolition of the status quo.
We aren’t just talking about a few guys moving up a rung or two on the ladder. We are talking about a complete restructuring of the pecking order. When the dust settled and the adrenaline faded, the release of the updated FightMatrix rankings (Release #1000, for those keeping score) confirmed what everyone watching already knew in their gut: the landscape has changed. The old guard is looking over their shoulders, and the new blood isn’t just knocking on the door. No, they are kicking it down.
Fight Odds Breakdown: How Missouri Combat Sports Fans Can Bet Smarter When Sportsbooks Launch
As legal mobile sports betting prepares to roll out in Missouri, fight fans across the state are getting ready to engage with combat sports on a deeper level. With UFC and boxing events regularly offering thrilling matchups, the launch of local sportsbooks introduces a fresh opportunity to turn knowledge into profitable wagers. However, betting on fights isn’t just about gut instinct or name recognition, it’s a game of odds, strategy, and timing. Understanding how to read lines, identify value, and manage risk can give Missouri bettors a decisive edge from day one.
Are MMA Rankings Relatable? (Spoiler: No)
Every rankings system’s goal is to turn a sport into a book you can read. Fight Matrix leans into that promise with its Combat Intelli-Rating and Ranking System (CIRRS), an engine that ingests professional results from around the world and produces a constantly updated table. The idea is to treat each fight as a data point. Wins over strong opponents are worth more than wins over fading or unproven names. Old results decay in value; recent form matters more. At its core, the system behaves like an Elo-style rating model, but wrapped in additional code that accounts for inactivity, impressive debuts, “fluke” wins, and cross-division movement.
This Week’s WHR Bets/Parlays
Both parlays still in the green!
Fights considered must satisfy all of the criteria below:
- Both fighters must be active (fought in 360 days prior to event). Reduces uncertainty.
- Both fighters must have at least 5 fights, with at least 1 draw or 1 loss (excluding debut). More data makes WHR happy.
- Both fighters must be rated in the same division as the fight. Further reduces uncertainty.
- Must have odds from at least three bookmakers.
MMA Stars’ High-Stakes Casino Adventures
Mixed martial arts champions often seek adrenaline beyond the octagon. Their competitive drive fuels high-stakes hobbies, from luxury cars to exclusive gaming tables. Many fighters explore the online casino Australia real money scene during international tours. This pursuit mirrors their training discipline but carries significant financial risks. Understanding their casino habits reveals much about their strategic minds.
- Conor McGregor wagered $1.4 million on a single blackjack hand in 2023.
- Over 68% of surveyed UFC fighters reported casino visits in the past year.
- A former champion won a $550,000 slots jackpot weeks before a title fight.
- Fighter-endorsed betting platforms saw a 45% revenue increase in 2024.
- High-profile MMA bets on boxing matches exceeded $12 million in 2024.
- Projected fighter gambling sponsorships will reach $25 million by 2025.
- Casino hosting fees for MMA after-parties average $300,000 per event.