Ultra-talented flyweight Manel Kape is officially back in the win column, scoring a fantastic third-round knockout on the main card of UFC Tampa last night.
While UFC fans around the world celebrate another impressive performance from 'Starboy', the stoppage unfortunately wasn't enough to secure him as the next challenger for the flyweight title.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Dana White rejects Manel Kape's claim for title shot after third-round KO
Manel Kape put in a masterful performance at UFC Tampa last night, pounding Brazilian Bruno Silva from pillar to post before scoring the knockout deep in the third round – the 12th KO/TKO victory of his career.
If it wasn't clear that the Portuguese Angolan 'Starboy' is desperate for a fight against champion Alexandre Pantoja, Kape would even start his petition to Dana White between the second and third rounds.
UFC cameras were only able to pick up a small portion of their cageside conversation, with White hearing Kape tell him to stay focused on the task at hand.
“How did you know what we were talking about – that's fascinating,” White joked at the post-fight press conference: “I was like, 'Let's finish this one first, you've got five minutes left' – and he went out and did it .”
While White may have been impressed with both the #9 ranked flyweight's confidence and performance, the UFC CEO was adamant that Kape would not get the next title shot.
“No, he won't get a title shot, but we will certainly give him what he is looking for.”
When asked who would get the next shot at Alexandre Pantoja, who defeated Kai Asakura at UFC 310 last weekend, White simply replied: “No idea, I'm sitting here now, no idea.”
Considering Kape's focus is squarely on the title, it's unclear what White could offer in return, if not Pantoja. Perhaps the promotion is looking to re-sign nemesis Muhammad Mokaev, who coincidentally won his own return match at Brave CF 91 this weekend.
Manel Kape says he will go to Dana White's house to continue the petition
At the post-fight press conference, Kape claimed that if he didn't get a chance to speak to White after UFC Tampa, he could simply go to his house to continue the title petition.
“Me and Dana, we're neighbors, we live ten minutes away from each other, so you know, if we don't get that conversation, I'm going to go to his house – I'm going to knock on his door.”
“I know my caliber, I know my skills,” Kape told Megan Olivi via ESPN MMA, noting that both he and Pantoja have now come through their fights with minimal damage.
“[It could happen] when Dana wants, I'm healthy and Pantoja is healthy too… I'm ready to go in 2025.”
Prior to Tuesday's update, there are only four flyweights ranked above Kape who are on winning streaks: Brandon Royval (#1), Brandon Moreno (#2), Kai Kara-France (#4) and Asu Almabayev (# 7).
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