Manel Kape
Prodigio
Angola
Ends 2025 with statement in
Kape defeated Brandon Royval via KO (punches) at 3:18 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas
ANALYSIS
It may not happen immediately, but Kape is worthy of a shot at the UFC Flyweight Championship after that performance. Yes, he entered as a -275 favorite and this was a fight most thought he would win, but he was going up against an opponent in Royval with legendary durability who has had a ton of success against the best the 125-pound division has to offer. Kape unloaded with one huge right hand which essentially turned Royval's lights out on the spot. A handful of follow-up shots and he was done for good. It was a perfectly reasonable stoppage from referee Herb Dean. Kape is a worthy challenger, but the top of the flyweight division is crowded. Joshua Van won the belt last week against Alexandre Pantoja after a freak injury in their bout suffered by the latter. Then you have Tatsuro Taira lurking, as well. Depending on the health of Pantoja, there's three guys each with a legitimate claim to be next in line as the calendar turns to 2026.
It may not happen immediately, but Kape is worthy of a shot at the UFC Flyweight Championship after that performance. Yes, he entered as a -275 favorite and this was a fight most thought he would win, but he was going up against an opponent in Royval with legendary durability who has had a ton of success against the best the 125-pound division has to offer. Kape unloaded with one huge right hand which essentially turned Royval's lights out on the spot. A handful of follow-up shots and he was done for good. It was a perfectly reasonable stoppage from referee Herb Dean. Kape is a worthy challenger, but the top of the flyweight division is crowded. Joshua Van won the belt last week against Alexandre Pantoja after a freak injury in their bout suffered by the latter. Then you have Tatsuro Taira lurking, as well. Depending on the health of Pantoja, there's three guys each with a legitimate claim to be next in line as the calendar turns to 2026.
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Slated for UFV Vegas main event
Kape will take on Brandon Royval in a flyweight bout at UFC Vegas 112 on Dec. 13, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
In his last time in the Octagon, Kape took care of Asu Almabayev in the third round. That was his second straight win and his 6th overall in the UFC. Now, he'll get a main event fight to close out 2025 against Royval, who will be looking for a bounce-back win as he lost his last bout. The fighters have the same wingspan, but Kape gives up four inches of height to his opponent.
In his last time in the Octagon, Kape took care of Asu Almabayev in the third round. That was his second straight win and his 6th overall in the UFC. Now, he'll get a main event fight to close out 2025 against Royval, who will be looking for a bounce-back win as he lost his last bout. The fighters have the same wingspan, but Kape gives up four inches of height to his opponent.
Fractures foot, out for UFC 317
Kape is no longer scheduled to face Brandon Royval in a flyweight fight at UFC 317 in Las Vegas on June 28 after fracturing his right foot during a recent training session, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Kape posted on social media Monday that he will undergo surgery to address the injury. He's not expected to compete again until 2026. The UFC has tapped Joshua Van to replace Kape on the June 28 card.
Kape posted on social media Monday that he will undergo surgery to address the injury. He's not expected to compete again until 2026. The UFC has tapped Joshua Van to replace Kape on the June 28 card.
Rebooked versus Royval
Kape will fight Brandon Royval at UFC 317 in Las Vegas on June 28, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Kape was initially booked versus Royval for UFC Vegas 103, but Royval was taken off the fight for undisclosed reasons. Kape ended up fighting Asu Almabayev and secured a controversial TKO win on March 1. He will now set his sights on Royval again for a fight at the end of June.
Kape was initially booked versus Royval for UFC Vegas 103, but Royval was taken off the fight for undisclosed reasons. Kape ended up fighting Asu Almabayev and secured a controversial TKO win on March 1. He will now set his sights on Royval again for a fight at the end of June.
Gets controversial win Saturday
Kape defeated Asu Almabayev via TKO (punches) at 2:16 of Round 3 at UFC Vegas 103 on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Kape picks up the win and a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus here, but this fight was not without its fair share of controversy. Kape may have been ahead on the scorecards 2-0 heading into Round 3, but the ultimate finish is one that will be questioned. First off, Kape appeared to -- almost intentionally -- scrape the eyes of his opponent not once, but twice, in the sequence leading up to the finish. It's also possible Almabayev's momentary retreat across the cage was perceived as a surrender by referee Mike Beltran, even if Almabayev intended to power through. Kape was landing punishing blows prior to that, but Almabayev appeared ready to fire back with a takedown. Now that it's all said and done, though, Kape walks away with a victory and a strong case for a future title shot -- if not at least a title eliminator.
Kape picks up the win and a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus here, but this fight was not without its fair share of controversy. Kape may have been ahead on the scorecards 2-0 heading into Round 3, but the ultimate finish is one that will be questioned. First off, Kape appeared to -- almost intentionally -- scrape the eyes of his opponent not once, but twice, in the sequence leading up to the finish. It's also possible Almabayev's momentary retreat across the cage was perceived as a surrender by referee Mike Beltran, even if Almabayev intended to power through. Kape was landing punishing blows prior to that, but Almabayev appeared ready to fire back with a takedown. Now that it's all said and done, though, Kape walks away with a victory and a strong case for a future title shot -- if not at least a title eliminator.
Replacement opponent named
Kape is scheduled to compete against Asu Almabayev in a flyweight fight at UFC Vegas 103 on March 1, according to Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Kape was scheduled to fight the UFC flyweight division's No. 1 contender Brandon Royval at UFC Vegas 103. But after Royval withdrew (undisclosed) from the event Wednesday, Kape is expected to fight No. 8 contender Asu Almabayev instead. Almabayev is on an 18-fight win streak, with four of the wins in the UFC and all but one of his promotion victories decisions during 2024. At the very least, a win over Almabyev can help Kape climb the UFC's flyweight rankings at least a little bit, even though a decisive win does not assure him a top-three contender status.
Kape was scheduled to fight the UFC flyweight division's No. 1 contender Brandon Royval at UFC Vegas 103. But after Royval withdrew (undisclosed) from the event Wednesday, Kape is expected to fight No. 8 contender Asu Almabayev instead. Almabayev is on an 18-fight win streak, with four of the wins in the UFC and all but one of his promotion victories decisions during 2024. At the very least, a win over Almabyev can help Kape climb the UFC's flyweight rankings at least a little bit, even though a decisive win does not assure him a top-three contender status.