{"id":24928,"date":"2025-12-14T07:15:44","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T18:15:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/?p=24928"},"modified":"2025-12-14T07:53:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T18:53:49","slug":"ufc-fight-night-preview-tips-sunday-14-december","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/2025\/12\/ufc-fight-night-preview-tips-sunday-14-december\/","title":{"rendered":"UFC Fight Night Preview & Tips | Sunday 14 December"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Though back in the all-too-familiar UFC Apex housed in Las Vegas, this weekend signals the end of an era that felt longer than it was. Less than seven years since hooking up with ESPN, the UFC now sits on the precipice of a new agreement with Paramount+ that brings reworked events along with the new year. For now, we focus on what lies immediate; an adequate UFC Fight Night 266 card to signal the sunset of a solid run.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n \n
\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n
\n
Brandon Royval<\/div>\n
vs<\/div>\n
Manel Kape<\/div>\n
Flyweight Bout<\/div>\n
Kape Head To Head @ $1.35<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

With no less than nine scheduled bouts falling through since 2022, it\u2019s nice just to see Manel Kape make it to fight week (and hopefully the cage) with his health and faculties intact. Not all of those rescheduled bouts are to be blamed on Kape but several, including weight misses and injuries, are accurately attributed accordingly.<\/p>\n

The betting favorite this weekend, Kape finished both of his last two outings in the third round. His most recent over Asu Almabayev was not without its share of controversy but Kape having his hand raised seemed an inevitability on that night no matter what.<\/p>\n

Quick, explosive, dynamic, and dangerous, Kape is manic outside of the cage and downright deadly inside. The flyweight dynamo isn\u2019t afraid of anyone and believes his power and athleticism is enough to tilt the scales against any encroaching threat \u2013 to this point, he\u2019s been proven largely correct.<\/p>\n

Kape was ground to a halt by Muhammad Mokaev last year but has otherwise navigated around the division with relative ease. Though Kape doesn\u2019t output a tremendous amount of volume early on, he picks his shots nicely and carries more power than most of his divisional peers.<\/p>\n

The speed and timing with which Kape throws breeds hesitancy and drags fights towards his preferred pace. At volume parity, there\u2019s practically no one in the division who can match Kape\u2019s quickness and sheer power.<\/p>\n

Fortunately for fans of the underdog Brandon Royval, a high-volume game plan is likely to make an appearance at UFC Fight Night 266. He came up short in his most recent outing \u2013 a five-round war with newly crowned champion Joshua Van \u2013 but managed to both throw and land more punches from the losing end.<\/p>\n

Royval is a tough customer who has only tapped a single time and only been TKO\u2019d due to injury, assets he\u2019ll need to lean on to stay ahead of Manel Kape minute-to-minute. Royval stands to have an edge in overall work rate but his defense has never been impressive and his wrestling is an underwhelming aspect of his game.<\/p>\n

With the bitterly close loss to Joshua Van still firmly in the rear view sight, I expect Royval to come out moving, probing, and working right off the bat. But the longer this fight goes, the more information Kape is apt to gather and capitalize on.<\/p>\n

Royval should stay relevant in the first half of the bout but Kape\u2019s physical advantages and striking superiority should pay dividends down the stretch. Look for Kape to land some concussive shots in the back half of the fight and seal up a much-needed ranked win in the fast-moving flyweight division.<\/p>\n

Bet:<\/em> Kape Head To Head @ $1.35<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\n Bet Now<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n
\n
Giga Chikadze<\/div>\n
vs<\/div>\n
Kevin Vallejos<\/div>\n
Featherweight Bout<\/div>\n
Vallejos Wins By Points @ $2.50<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

Winner of his last five, including two in the UFC, Kevin Vallejos is rapidly building a reputation as a must-see fighter. His most recent appearance saw him slug it out with Danny Silva for three rounds, a stark contrast to his first-round blowout of Seung Woo Choi in March.<\/p>\n

An exciting striker with legitimate power in both hands, Kevin Vallejos is one who seems to enjoy trying to control the chaos. He isn\u2019t a technically deficient fighter but one gets the impression he gets drawn into slug fests a bit too easily, reducing his own efficacy for the benefit of the fans.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, Vallejos has proven a resilient and consistent offensive presence. His three-round war with Jean Silva was proof enough but his defense regularly gives him opportunities to showcase his toughness.<\/p>\n

A kickboxing bout is exactly what Giga Chikadze needs at this stage of his career as he struggles to regain footing in a competitive featherweight division. Chikadze came up short in his last two outings and at age 37 is beginning to show the wear of a long career.<\/p>\n

Chikadze is still a sharp kickboxer with a particularly shredding rear body kick but his offensive consistency and durability have waned in recent years. 1-3 in his last four, Chikadze has failed to recapture the momentum he had during a COVID-era stretch of initial organizational success.<\/p>\n

Ever the tactical, crafty veteran, I expect Chikadze to land some big shots and generate a couple highlights of his but it won\u2019t be enough to overcome Vallejos. The younger man will do what he needs to, marching down Chikadze, wearing on the veteran, and notching the biggest win of his young career.<\/p>\n

Bet:<\/em> Vallejos Wins By Points @ $2.50<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\n Bet Now<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n
\n
Cesar Almeida<\/div>\n
vs<\/div>\n
Cezary Oleksiejczuk<\/div>\n
Middleweight Bout<\/div>\n
Oleksiejczuk Wins By KO\/TKO or Submission @ $1.85<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

The younger brother of current UFC middleweight Michal, this weekend will be the organizational debut of 25-year-old Cezary Oleksiejczuk. With nearly twenty bouts under his belt already, it\u2019s clear to see Oleksiejczuk took his time developing to this point.<\/p>\n

A southpaw like his brother, the left hand is a predictably dangerous tool for Oleksiejczuk. That said, he tends to look a bit more defensively savvy inside the cage, moving his head well and shooting straight punches down the pipe.<\/p>\n

He hasn\u2019t spent time in major organizations but has managed to share the cage with some veteran names that have. Chris Fishgold, Piotr Strus, and Tom Breese have all enjoyed time in either the UFC or KSW and all fell victim to Oleksiejczuk in the first round.<\/p>\n

There are still major question marks regarding the grappling acumen of Oleksiejczuk but this contest isn\u2019t shaped up to challenge him in that area. Rather, it will be his kickboxing tested against a former professional in the sport.<\/p>\n

Cesar Almeida famously owns a win over Alex Pereira in kickboxing, though he ultimately fell short in two of their three meetings. As expected, Almeida sticks firmly to his roots when he steps into the cage and to this point has yet to land a single takedown in the UFC.<\/p>\n

At his best, Almeida carries solid punching power and swaths of striking experience into every fight. Now 37, it\u2019s worth considering how Almeida\u2019s work rate and durability have shown signs of degeneration in recent years.<\/p>\n

Almeida is not a shot fighter by any means but he\u2019s been dropped in two of his last three outings. His quick recovery is noteworthy but a lifelong striker struggling to keep up the volume and stay on the feet for entire fights is certainly cause for concern.<\/p>\n

The hefty age difference here may play a factor down the line as Cezary Oleksiejczuk just seems the sharper, quicker, fresher man. He lacks a breakout win but this weekend could be just the one Oleksiejczuk needs, as Almeida has proven increasingly vulnerable to quick, straight shots.<\/p>\n

Bet:<\/em> Oleksiejczuk Wins By KO\/TKO or Submission @ $1.85<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\n Bet Now<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n
\n
Morgan Charriere<\/div>\n
vs<\/div>\n
Melquizael Costa<\/div>\n
Featherweight Bout<\/div>\n
Costa Wins By Points @ $2.60<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

With odds as narrow as they get, the showdown between Melquizael Costa and Morgan Charriere is poised to be an explosive one as both enter the weekend off bonus-winning performances. For Costa, it was a Fight of the Night decision win over Julian Erosa that earned him some extra cash. Charriere added to his paycheck after stopping Nate Landwehr in the third round of a scrap.<\/p>\n

Melquizael, sometimes known as \u201cThe Dalmatian\u201d, is riding a four-fight win streak and looking better by the month. The Brazilian is versatile, with the ability to end a fight anywhere, but his striking improvements have been particularly notable.<\/p>\n

With a deadly left hook and deceptive punching power at his disposal, it would be easy for Costa to coast on those attributes alone. Fortunately, he tends to stay busy and put up enough volume to stay relevant whether or not his heaviest shots are finding the target.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, Morgan Charriere represents the opposite end of the spectrum. Preferring to pick his shots carefully and tear his foes down with precision, Charriere has had a multitude of fights run close on the scorecards due to this tendency.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no taking away his technical superiority, speed, and general composure as a striker but he has been justifiably criticized for not doing enough. He certainly owns the skill necessary to put on brilliant performances but time has proven he lacks the urgency to separate from his competition.<\/p>\n

Recent outings have showcased Charriere\u2019s diversity as he sought out takedowns against all but one of his UFC opponents. He may look to that outlet again but I\u2019m doubtful of his ability to hold Costa down for meaningful durations.<\/p>\n

With this one likely to be a probing kickboxing bout, Costa\u2019s consistent offensive output and aesthetically heavy-looking punches will weigh heavily on the judges. Look for Costa\u2019s activity to keep him ahead throughout the night and carry him over the finish line to a solid win and impressive streak.<\/p>\n

Bet:<\/em> Costa Wins By Points @ $2.60<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\n Bet Now<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n
\n
Kennedy Nzechukwu<\/div>\n
vs<\/div>\n
Marcus Buchecha<\/div>\n
Heavyweight Bout<\/div>\n
Nzechukwu Wins By KO\/TKO or Submission @ $2.15<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

After being rapidly heel hooked by alleged foot fetishist Valter Walker earlier in the year, UFC Fight Night 266 signals Kennedy Nzechukwu\u2019s last chance at a victory in 2025. To his credit, he\u2019s 2-1 since moving up to heavyweight and last year went a perfect 2-0 in the division.<\/p>\n

Standing at approximately 240lbs (108.8kg), Nzechukwu isn\u2019t the biggest in the division but carries appropriate heft and punching power into the cage. A more prominent concern is his low punch output, though that is often a neglected criticism due to his uncanny ability to end fights regardless.<\/p>\n

The imposing figure is heavy handed and savvier than one may anticipate, but there isn\u2019t much nuance to his pairing this weekend. Nzechukwu will be seeking to keep things on the feet against vaunted grappling specialist Marcus Buchecha.<\/p>\n

Buchecha owns a great legacy in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as one of the best competitors of his era; his MMA career hasn\u2019t gone quite as swimmingly. 5-2 as a professional, Buchecha\u2019s most recent appearance saw him sputtering to a unanimous decision loss.<\/p>\n

Like many submission specialists before him, the Brazilian is a true threat on the mat but struggles to get it there. Developing his wrestling has been a consistent focus but he has failed to impress on that front. Naturally, he has little more to offer as a pure striker.<\/p>\n

Buchecha\u2019s hype train was firmly stalled in his last outing and this contest represents a challenging rebound for him. Though he may find some intermittent success if he sticks to a wrestling-heavy game plan, he may need to end the fight early before fatigue sets in.<\/p>\n

The Brazilian will surely put out his best effort in the first round but there is no discounting the strength, experience, and deceptively well-rounded skills of Nzechukwu. Though the smaller man on paper, I expect Kennedy Nzechukwu to largely keep the fight where he wants it, minimize damage in bad spots, force a finish before the finish bell.<\/p>\n

Bet:<\/em> Nzechukwu Wins By KO\/TKO or Submission @ $2.15<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\n Bet Now<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n
\n
King Green<\/div>\n
vs<\/div>\n
Lance Gibson Jr.<\/div>\n
Catchweight Bout<\/div>\n
Green Wins By KO\/TKO or Submission<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

With four times as much MMA experience as his opponent this weekend, it\u2019s easy to see why King Green is favored in the main card opener. Taken out in his last two outings at the hands of Paddy Pimblett and Mauricio Ruffy, the veteran\u2019s UFC record has now moved to a near even split.<\/p>\n

Green is a longstanding sight in the organization\u2019s lightweight division but it\u2019s clear that he\u2019s moved into the latter stages of his career. Still one of the quickest and offensively explosive boxers in the division, Green\u2019s own reflexes have slowed down a bit on the defensive end and that\u2019s primarily where he\u2019s getting caught now.<\/p>\n

That said, Green still stands as a stiff test for any incoming debutante \u2013 especially one with questionable durability. Lance Gibson Jr. may be relatively inexperienced as an MMA professional but he comes from a fighting family that has kept him in the gym.<\/p>\n

His father fought in the UFC several times with his most recent being nearly 25 years to the day. His step-mother is women\u2019s MMA pioneer Julia Budd, whose presence is also felt as a coach in Gibson Jr.\u2019s corner.<\/p>\n

This has led to a fruitful career on paper for Gibson Jr. but there are still some seams not fully reinforced. At only 30 years old it wouldn\u2019t be fair to call him a finished product but Gibson Jr. has failed to show the kind of consistent evolution one would hope for in a young prospect.<\/p>\n

He hails from a background in martial arts but tends to predominantly lean on his wrestling and footwork. Extended striking exchanges, even against mediocre opposition, have often landed Gibson Jr. in hot water.<\/p>\n

King Green\u2019s fighting expiration date is drawing nearer but he isn\u2019t yet at the stage where a mobile but largely one-note prospect should be able to handle him. Green\u2019s speed and precision on the feet will carve out clear advantages on the feet while his defensive wrestling should keep the fight where he needs it to be.<\/p>\n

Bet:<\/em> Green Wins By KO\/TKO or Submission<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\n Bet Now<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/use><\/svg><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
All Tips<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n
\n

Kape v Royval:<\/em> Kape Head to Head @ $1.35
\nVallejos v Chikadze:<\/em> Vallejos Wins By Points @ $2.50
\nOleksiejczuk v Almeida:<\/em> Oleksiejczuk Wins By KO\/TKO or Submission @ $1.85
\nCosta v Charriere:<\/em> Costa Wins By Points @ $2.60
\nNzechukwu v Buchecha:<\/em> Nzechukwu Wins By KO\/TKO or Submission @ $2.15
\nGreen v Gibson Jr.:<\/em> Green Wins By KO\/TKO or Submission
\nRobertson v Lemos:<\/em> Robertson Head to Head @ $1.50
\nBrito v Thomson:<\/em> Brito Wins By KO\/TKO or Submission
\nAmosov v Magny:<\/em> Amosov Wins By KO\/TKO or Submission @ $1.98
\nAsplund v Sharaf:<\/em> Asplund Wins By KO\/TKO or Submission
\nSantos v Croden:<\/em> Santos Wins By Points @ $2.35
\nPat v Frye:<\/em> Pat Wins By KO\/TKO or Submission
\nBleda v Horth:<\/em> Horth Head to Head @ $2.15<\/p>\n

\n Bet Now<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Though back in the all-too-familiar UFC Apex housed in Las Vegas, this weekend signals the end of an era that felt longer than it was. Less than seven years since hooking up with ESPN, the UFC now sits on the precipice of a new agreement with Paramount+ that brings reworked events along with the new year. For now, we focus on what lies immediate; an adequate UFC Fight Night 266 card to signal the sunset of a solid run. Brandon Royval vs Manel Kape Flyweight Bout Kape Head To Head @ $1.35 With no less than nine scheduled bouts falling…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":337,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[578],"hub_post_cat":[],"class_list":["post-24928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ufc","tag-ufc-tips"],"acf":{"md_tip_date":"","md_tip_date_end":"","md_market_url":"","tip_date":"14\/12\/2025","event_country":"New Zealand"},"yoast_head":"\nUFC Fight Night Preview & Tips | Sunday 14 December - TAB NZ Punters Lounge<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/2025\/12\/ufc-fight-night-preview-tips-sunday-14-december\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_NZ\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UFC Fight Night Preview & Tips | Sunday 14 December - TAB NZ Punters Lounge\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Though back in the all-too-familiar UFC Apex housed in Las Vegas, this weekend signals the end of an era that felt longer than it was. Less than seven years since hooking up with ESPN, the UFC now sits on the precipice of a new agreement with Paramount+ that brings reworked events along with the new year. For now, we focus on what lies immediate; an adequate UFC Fight Night 266 card to signal the sunset of a solid run. 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Less than seven years since hooking up with ESPN, the UFC now sits on the precipice of a new agreement with Paramount+ that brings reworked events along with the new year. For now, we focus on what lies immediate; an adequate UFC Fight Night 266 card to signal the sunset of a solid run. Brandon Royval vs Manel Kape Flyweight Bout Kape Head To Head @ $1.35 With no less than nine scheduled bouts falling…","og_url":"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/2025\/12\/ufc-fight-night-preview-tips-sunday-14-december\/","og_site_name":"TAB NZ Punters Lounge","article_published_time":"2025-12-13T18:15:44+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-12-13T18:53:49+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":675,"url":"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/UFC_2.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Talen Guzman","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Talen Guzman","Est. reading time":"1 minute"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/2025\/12\/ufc-fight-night-preview-tips-sunday-14-december\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/2025\/12\/ufc-fight-night-preview-tips-sunday-14-december\/"},"author":{"name":"Talen Guzman","@id":"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/#\/schema\/person\/b30dc37ea79a16d0b9756c3e72391265"},"headline":"UFC Fight Night Preview & Tips | Sunday 14 December","datePublished":"2025-12-13T18:15:44+00:00","dateModified":"2025-12-13T18:53:49+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/2025\/12\/ufc-fight-night-preview-tips-sunday-14-december\/"},"wordCount":86,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/2025\/12\/ufc-fight-night-preview-tips-sunday-14-december\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/UFC_2.jpg","keywords":["UFC Tips"],"articleSection":["UFC"],"inLanguage":"en-NZ"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/2025\/12\/ufc-fight-night-preview-tips-sunday-14-december\/","url":"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/2025\/12\/ufc-fight-night-preview-tips-sunday-14-december\/","name":"UFC Fight Night Preview & Tips | Sunday 14 December - 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