Manel Kape can’t assist however antagonize his opponents earlier than they step into the ring or cage.
The previous RIZIN Bantamweight champion has been recognized for his scorching mood and outspoken nature. The Angolan infamously received into a quick scuffle with former Final Preventing Championship (UFC) veteran, Ian McCall, on the weigh-ins for his or her bout at RIZIN’s 2017 World Grand Prix Second Spherical. Historical past has now repeated itself, to an extent.
Kape will tackle fellow top-ranked UFC Flyweight contender, Muhammad Mokaev, at UFC 304 in Manchester, England this weekend (Sat., July 27, 2024). Nonetheless, the pair of combatants couldn’t wait till Saturday, as they received right into a scuffle in a video shared by Mokaev on his Instagram. The video will be seen within the embedded participant above.
A title shot is anticipated to be awaiting the winner of the combat. A win for both would put them in a primary place, extending both Mokaev’s unbeaten streak to 14 (12-0, 1 no contest, 6-0 in UFC) or Kape’s successful stretch to 5 straight (19-6, 4-2 in UFC).
The previous 135-pound champion expects this to be his 23-year-old foe’s hardest check thus far.
“I’m going to attempt to make this fast as a result of I’ve to place Mokaev in his place,” Kape mentioned at UFC 304 media day (h/t MMA Junkie). “In my view, that is too early for him, however we’ll see. It’s too early. There may be ranges to this sport. He by no means confronted a championship-caliber [fighter] and I see quite a lot of errors in his sport — that’s why I say it’s too early for him.”
Do not forget that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of the complete UFC 304 combat card proper right here, beginning with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches on-line, that are scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET (simulcast on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. ET), earlier than the pay-per-view (PPV) principal card begin time at 10 p.m. ET (additionally on ESPN+).
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