Home of Fight Expert Picks: UFC Vegas 112
UFC Vegas 112 closes out the 2025 calendar with a high‑action flyweight main event as Brandon “Raw Dawg” Royval looks to reassert his title aspirations against surging contender Manel Kape at the UFC Apex. Stylistically, this is chaos waiting to happen: Royval’s scrambling, submission-heavy attack collides with Kape’s sharp counter-punching and fight-ending power, making momentum swings almost inevitable over five rounds.
The main card is layered with compelling matchups that could reshape multiple divisions. Featherweight technician Giga Chikadze aims to stop a skid against Argentina’s rising prospect Kevin Vallejos, in a classic battle of seasoned kicker versus hungry volume striker. In the middleweight slot, former kickboxing standout Cesar Almeida meets Cezary Oleksiejczuk in a striker-friendly clash that should answer real questions about both men’s ceiling at 185.
Further down the lineup, Amanda Lemos vs. Gillian Robertson is a pivotal strawweight bout pitting Lemos’ explosiveness against Robertson’s grinding grappling, while Neil Magny welcomes elite welterweight Yaroslav Amosov to the Octagon in one of the card’s most intriguing litmus tests. Heavyweight prospect Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida also takes a big step up against Kennedy Nzechukwu, and action-friendly names like Joanderson Brito, Melquizael Costa, and Morgan Charrière round out a card built for violence rather than star power.
With a great fight card on tap, money can be made at the sportsbook this Saturday night. Home of Fight is here to help put money in your pockets and cash out at the window this Saturday night. Let’s take a look at the Home of Fight expert picks for UFC Vegas 112.
Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape
- HayJive – Manel Kape
“Royval is an aggressive chaotic striker, and that should allow the counter striker Kape to find his shots. Give me Kape by KO.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – Manel Kape
“Royval takes damage and has been hurt a bit lately. Kape’s ability to deal damage could be too much here.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Manel Kape
“I do believe this will be based on volume, in what will be a close fight, until it isn’t. I do believe it happens later into the fight, potentially in the 4th or 5th round.”
- Corrie – Brandon Royval
“Look I’ve cashed on Kape in his last two fights, but there’s no world where I feel comfortable laying a -300 price on him with the years of low activity and those moments where he just… Turns it down here and there… Especially against someone as scrappy and relentless as Royval so for me, it’s dog or pass.”
- The Fight Analyst – Manel Kape
“It’s not ideal to take a fighter coming off injury but if Kape returns to form he should make his presence known. I expect Royval to start out hot but once Kape finds his range he will start to land at will, potentially getting a late round finish or decision to be next in line for the flyweight title shot.”
- Austin Swaim – Brandon Royval
“There’s no doubt Kape is the more technical striker, but this is a fight, and Brandon Royval is the striking equivilent of Anthony Hernandez. He landed over 75 significant strikes a round on Josh Van. Kape has battled weight issues and fought at a more deliberate pace in previous UFC starts, so I think Royval’s pace breaks him for a late finish.”
Giga Chikadze vs. Kevin Vallejos
- HayJive – Kevin Vallejos
“Chikadze could give Vallejos some problems early but the longer the fight goes I favor Vallejos. Much younger, better cardio, and more tools to get it done.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – Kevin Vallejos
“Kevin is much younger, hits very hard and can grapple. Giga is on the back end of a long combat sports career.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Kevin Vallejos
“Chikadze has the kicks and outside striking, but the moment Vallejos cuts range into boxing, it becomes a bit more problematic from him, as we’ve seen against some of the best boxers in the 145 division.”
- Corrie – Kevin Vallejos
“At this stage in Giga’s career, he’s definitely trending downward, even though he’s still tough as nails. That said, Vallejos’ UFC wins have been so clean, and you can see his commitment to growing as a fighter in everything he does: how he talks, how he carries himself, all of it. He’s already shown he can handle a high-level standup pace, and as long as he doesn’t let Giga reset and control the rhythm, I think this is Vallejos’ fight.”
- The Fight Analyst – Kevin Vallejos
“This should be a relatively close fight because of the huge size advantage Giga Chikadze possesses. However, his best days are behind him at this point and once Kevin Vallejos can find his range and get in the pocket he will land devastating shots punishing Chikadze to either a late round finish or decision.”
- Austin Swaim – Kevin Vallejos
“My model has a Vallejos decision at 44.3% likely, which is due in large part to Giga Chikadze never having been stopped in UFC despite facing other dangerous contenders. While Vallejos’ elite boxing should compete at distance, don’t surprise if we see the most voluminous wrestling effort yet from the Argentinian prospect.”
Cesar Almeida vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk
- HayJive – Cezary Oleksiejczuk
“Cezary is a legit prospect getting a tough striker in his debut, but I think he passes the test. If Cezary wants to grapple he should be able to, but on the feet I trust his boxing and pressure to prevail.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – Cezary Oleksiejczuk
“Another fighter who’s much younger than his opponent, should be much faster, and can mix in the grappling.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Cesar Almeida
“Almeida is the more crafty, technical striker, and I believe more experienced too. Cezary is solid, though at the same time, I can see him getting countered.”
- Corrie – Cezary Oleksiejczuk
“While he’s young, he’s been fighting in different disciplines forever so the experience is there PLUS I think being with TFN should have prepped him for this debut. Almeida is a good fighter, but I think the major age ga will show in terms of speed here, and once Cezary gets touched once, he’ll turn it up a notch and Cesar won’t be able to keep up.”
- The Fight Analyst – Cezary Oleksiejczuk
“Experience will matter in this fight and Cezar Oleksiejczuk comes into this fight with more than double of that of Cesar Almeida. Oleksiejczuk will have the size and speed advantage in this bout — while he is a striker by trade — don’t be surprised if he takes advantage of the ground game of Almeida. The work with his brother Michal Oleksiejczuk over at The Fighting Nerds only helps him in his UFC debut to get the win against Almeida on Saturday.”
- Austin Swaim – Cesar Almeida
“I don’t recall even a wobble from the veteran kickboxer in UFC, so I disagree with these betting odds putting Almeida out to pasture against the inexperienced Polish newcomer. This is a high-level striking match, and therefore, it’s really hard to pass on the guy who went 9 competitive rounds with Alex Pereira back in the day.”
Morgan Charriere vs. Melquizael Costa
- HayJive – Melquizael Costa
“This should be a closely contested fight, but I will side with Costa as he should dictate the range on the feet and his counter grappling will give Charriere fits.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – Morgan Charriere
“I think people are low on Morgan, but he’s shown good skills and speed. If he keeps it standing it will be close and I think him at slight plus money is the side.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Morgan Charriere
“As much as I do appreciate the streak Melq has been in, I do think Cherriere is a nightmare matchup for him, due to the aggressive striking and forward pressure.”
- Corrie – Morgan Charriere
“Charriere should have the speed and power edge here and Melky being on the wrong side of too many exchanges makes me nervous. While I like Melky as a fighter, at a pick ’em pricetag, if there’s a finish: I see Morgan finding it, so that’s where I lean, solely because I prefer to take the more dangerous guy when it’s pretty, even otherwise.”
- The Fight Analyst – Melquizael Costa
“Morgan Charriere is one of those guys I’ve had a ton of expectations for but he’s failed to live up to the hype every time he’s stepped inside the Octagon. While he’s 2-1 in his last three, those two wins against two guys who are known to get finished. It’s going to be tough to finish someone like Melquizael Costa who’s very good at range and has a slick submission game if it hits the mat. Ultimately, Costa blasts calf, body, and head kicks at range and outstrike Charrier to get the decision win.”
- Austin Swaim – Melquizael Costa
“Morgan Charriere’s strength of victory in UFC is poor, and he’s 5-10 as a pro in decisions because, if the knockout doesn’t come, he’s not a great winner of minutes. I think Melky’s pace and grappling upside allows him to get a competitive nod — and move to 4-0 in 2025.”
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Buchecha
- HayJive – Kennedy Nzechukwu
“A very binary fight, Buchecha could sub him early but If he gets stuck on the feet Kennedy should beat him cleanly.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – Marcus Buchecha
“This is a buy low spot. Buchecha can get the grappling going better in this spot than he did against Buday.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Marcus Buchecha
“A heavyweight wrestler that will look to shoot early and often. I do believe Kennedy won’t be able to keep this standing, and on the mat, Buchecha is lethal.”
- Corrie – Kennedy Nzechukwu
“This is tough because it comes down to who fixes their mistakes first and while Buchecha has insane BJJ pedigree, his debut obviously did not go as he wanted, and Kennedy needs space, range, and discipline to use his striking the best he can so if Buchecha gets good body-lock entries early I’ll be upset, but the longer the fight stays standing, which for my sake, I hope it does, I could see a stoppage.”
- The Fight Analyst – Marcus Buchecha
“The heavyweight experiment for Kennedy Nzechukwu hasn’t gone to plan thus far. He has wins over fighters who are no longer in the promotion, and his lone loss was a 54-second submission defeat. Now, he takes a BJJ world champion Marcus Buchecha which will not be any easier. Ultimately, it will be a bit rangy at first, but once Buchecha traps Nzechukwu against the cage, he will land the takedown eventually choking him out and get his first UFC victory.”
- Austin Swaim – Marcus Buchecha
“I just can’t trust Kennedy Nzechukwu to not make the critical mistake in this fight with a piranha. Buchecha struggled to ground a large, large man in his UFC debut, but Nzechukwu is much smaller with a history of struggling against a jiu-jitsu base. The Brazilian will find the tap at some point.”
King Green vs. Lance Gibson Jr.
- HayJive – King Green
“This is a weird fight, but I’ll take the veteran to get it done. If Bobby isn’t completely washed he should be the much better striker.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – King Green
“Bobby could show levels here. Gibson Jr. has yet to fight in the UFC, and Bobby is one of the longest standing veterans in the organization. Bobby by cardio and volume.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings) – King Green
“I am unsure of Gibson Jr’s quality, especially against a “crafty vet” like King Green that still has some speed in his arsenal.
- Corrie – King Green
“I don’t trust Bellator debuts, especially not nowadays. King Green has been the subject of two pretty rough finishes by none other Mauricio Ruffy and Paddy Pimblett. That said, admittedly, I’m not the most familiar with Lance Gibson Jr.’s game with this being a late addition to the card but realistically, I’ll bet on the experience before a Bellator debut in 2025 tbh.”
- The Fight Analyst – Lance Gibson Jr.
“Lance Gibson is a prospect that should’ve been signed a while ago, but here he finally is going against tough opposition for his UFC debut. The former ASU wrestler will look to push the pace against the aging King Green, breaking him as the fight gets into the later rounds. With this fight being a catchweight of 160 lbs only helps the Gibson Jr. more. Expect Lance Gibson Jr. to make a statement against King Green this weekend at the UFC Apex.”
- Austin Swaim – King Green
“Though “King” isn’t getting any younger, it was still not long ago that he dominated a game, capable Jim Miller. I still trust his hand speed and defense even if high-impact moments have been his undoing lately. Lance Gibson Jr.’s so-so resume just doesn’t seem like the type to step in on short notice and beat Green unless he’s completely toast.”
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