The UFC’s year-end Fight Night at the Apex caps 2025 with a flyweight headliner between Brandon Royval and Manel Kape, featuring a compelling middleweight main card bout between Brazilian kickboxing veteran Cesar Almeida and Polish knockout prospect Cezary Oleksiejczuk. Almeida aims to rebound and solidify his Top 15 contention, while Oleksiejczuk makes his Octagon debut on a four-fight KO streak, bringing explosive volume to the 185-pound division. This 12-fight card mixes ranked action and debuts for a technical, finish-heavy night. Below is a comprehensive preview, spotlighting Almeida vs. Oleksiejczuk, with event details and betting analysis.
Injury Report
As of December 9, 2025, the card is 100% intact, with no reported issues for Almeida or Oleksiejczuk. Almeida enters healthy after his January 2025 first-round KO (cleared post-fight), and Oleksiejczuk is primed following his September DWCS knockout (no medical flags). The event avoided disruptions: Royval’s past concussions are managed but unrelated here, and a minor prelim tweak in November was resolved swiftly.
Fighter Matchups: Cesar Almeida vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk (Middleweight, 3 Rounds)
This main card striker’s clinic pits Almeida’s clinch-heavy Muay Thai against Oleksiejczuk’s high-volume southpaw boxing in a debut test for the young Pole. Almeida’s precision (4.2 significant strikes/min) and 71% KO rate clash with Oleksiejczuk’s output (5.2 strikes/min) and 56% finishes, but the 2″ reach edge for Oleksiejczuk could control range. At 37 vs. 25, veteran savvy vs. explosive youth—middleweight trends show 58% finishes; model predicts 68% KO/TKO under 2:30.
Cesar “Cesinha” Almeida (7-1-0, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Age: 37; Height: 6’1″; Reach: 74″; Stance: Orthodox)
A former Glory Kickboxing champion training at Chute Boxe, Almeida excels in pocket exchanges with knees and elbows (58% striking accuracy). His 71% takedown defense keeps fights standing, but recent decisions highlight cardio questions against volume.
Cezary Oleksiejczuk (16-3-0, Leczna, Poland; Age: 25; Height: 6’3″; Reach: 75″; Stance: Southpaw)
The FEN Middleweight Champion out of Ankos MMA, Oleksiejczuk is a volume machine with 9 TKOs, landing straight rights and body shots at 67% accuracy. His DWCS contract via 36-second KO underscores power, though sub losses reveal ground vulnerabilities.
Key Styles Clash: Almeida’s pressure and clinch damage vs. Oleksiejczuk’s jab counters and length. Oleksiejczuk’s youth favors early blitzes, but Almeida’s experience could grind out control—projection: Oleksiejczuk via volume TKO if standing, Almeida decision if clinched.
Recent Form
Almeida’s UFC run shows finishing threat but a blemish, while Oleksiejczuk dominates regionally on KOs.
| Fighter | Last 5 Fights | Form Notes |
| Cesar Almeida | W-KO1 (Alhassan, Jan 2025) W-UD3 (Potieria, Oct 2024) L-SD3 (Kopylov, Jun 2024) W-TKO2 (Budka, Apr 2024) W-KO1 (Ribas, Jan 2024) | 4-1 streak; 71% KO rate in UFC (3-1 Octagon). Bounced back strong post-split loss; camp refines entries vs. southpaws. |
| Cezary Oleksiejczuk | W-KO1 (Haig, Sep 2025 DWCS) W-KO1 (Breese, Feb 2025) W-KO1 (Strus, Oct 2024) W-TKO3 (Kuanyshbayev, Mar 2024) L-UD3 (Rasulov, Dec 2023) | 4-fight KO streak; 80% finishes in last 5. DWCS hype intact; focuses on UFC pace and defense (71% striking def.). |
Fight History
Cesar Almeida (Pro Debut: 2012): Kickboxing standout (Glory titles) transitioned to MMA via regionals; UFC since April 2024 (3-1). Total fight time: ~42 minutes across 8 bouts. Strengths: Clinch striking (27% clinch rate), KO power (71%). Weaknesses: Volume absorption (exposed vs. Kopylov), age (37, potential chin fade).
Cezary Oleksiejczuk (Pro Debut: 2017): Polish circuit dominator (FEN champ) to DWCS September 2025; UFC debut. Total fight time: ~68 minutes across 19 bouts. Strengths: Output (5.2 SLpM), reach leverage (75″). Weaknesses: Grappling (33% sub losses), untested vs. UFC vets (debut risk).
FIGHT ODDS
Cesar Almeida + 145
Cezary Oleksiejczuk – 170
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, December 12, 2025
