Tag: Manel Kape

Manel Kape reveals rib injury caused UFC Fight Night 241 withdrawal vs. Matheus Nicolau

UFC flyweight standout Manel Kape simply can’t catch a break.

[autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] can’t catch a break.

Kape (19-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) on Tuesday pulled out of his UFC Fight Night 241 headliner vs. [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag] (19-4-1 MMA, 7-2) scheduled for April 27 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and was replaced by Alex Perez.

Kape and Nicolau were originally scheduled to run things back in January, but the fight was scrapped after Kape missed weight by 3.5 pounds.

In a social media post Wednesday morning, “Starboy” revealed that he broke his rib and required surgery.

“This is the first time I’ve ever pull out of a fight, I broke the cartilage of my rib and I couldn’t move for a week. On Thursday last week my surgery went extremely well. Bare in mind that all my fights that got cancelled in the past was due to my opponents. Where I came from we used to fight for free, I’m not bragging about I’m just being honest so don’t ever think I’m like some of you guys. ALLAH IS THE GREAT 🤲🏼 #notimeforbrokepeople #mytimeismoney.”

After four fights in 2021, Kape competed only once each in 2022 and 2023. Currently riding a four-fight winning streak, Kape has seen nine fights scrapped since joining the UFC roster in March 2020. Many of those fights were canceled because of his opponents, but it was Kape who withdrew from his past two scheduled bouts vs. Nicolau.

[lawrence-related id=2708576,2678195]

Manel Kape out of UFC Fight Night 241 headliner vs. Matheus Nicolau, Alex Perez steps in as replacement

Alex Perez replaces Manel Kape to fight Matheus Nicolau in the main event of UFC Fight Night 241 on April 27.

[autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag]’s 2024 return to the octagon has been delayed again.

The UFC flyweight contender is out of his bout against [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag], which was to serve as the headliner of a UFC Fight Night event on April 27 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Now, veteran [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag] has been pulled from a scheduled matchup of his own to step in as a replacement to face Nicolau.

The news was announced by the promotion on Tuesday and later independently confirmed by MMA Junkie.

Kape (19-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) and Nicolau (19-4-1 MMA, 7-2) were originally supposed to rematch in January, but the fight was scrapped after Kape missed weight by 3.5 pounds. Kape has had many fight cancellations in the last couple of years, leaving him to fight only once in 2022 and once more in 2023.

Nicolau was the last fighter to defeat Kape, winning a split decision in March 2021. He looks to rebound from a loss to former title challenger Brandon Royval, which snapped the 31-year-old’s six-fight winning streak.

Replacing Kape, Perez (24-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC) is also looking to bounce back from defeat. “Turbo” was scheduled to face Tagir Ulanbekov on June 15 before the shift to facing Nicolau. The former UFC title challenger is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Muhammad Mokaev in March. He’s currently on a three-fight losing streak, with his last win coming in 2020.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

Manel Kape vs. Matheus Nicolau 2 set to headline UFC Fight Night in April

Flyweight Manel Kape and Matheus Nicolau will run it back, this time headlining an April UFC Fight Night event in Las Vegas.

[autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] and [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag] will run it back again, this time in a UFC Fight Night headliner.

The pair were previously booked for a rematch in January, and made it as far as an official faceoff, but the fight was scrapped after Kape (19-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) missed the flyweight limit by 3.5 pounds. Nicolau (19-4-1 MMA, 7-2) made weight and initially agreed to accept a percentage of Kape’s purse, but the fight did not proceed.

Now the flyweight contenders are set to meet again in the main event on April 27 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. MMA Junkie confirmed the news with two sources with knowledge of the matchup following a first report from MMA Mania.

Kape, 30, said an illness and antibiotics use led to the weight miss in January. In his statement on Instagram, he said he offered his entire purse to save the fight, but to no avail. “Starboy” has won four consecutive fights, with six cancelations occurring during that stretch.

Nicolau was the last fighter to defeat Kape, winning a split decision in March 2021. He will look to rebound from a loss to former title challenger Brandon Royval. Before that setback, the 31-year-old flyweight won six straight contests.

[lawrence-related id=2678195,2602008]

With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup on April 27 includes:

  • Matheus Nicolau vs. Manel Kape
  • Ariane Lipski vs. Karine Silva
  • Joel Alvarez vs. Mateusz Rebecki
  • Jhonata Diniz vs. Austen Lane
  • Gabriel Benitez vs. Hayisaer Maheshate
  • Michal Figlak vs. Austin Hubbard
  • Caio Machado vs. Don’Tale Mayes
  • Gabe Green vs. James Llontop
  • Liang Na vs. Ivana Petrovic

UFC Fight Night 237 matchmaker: What’s next for key winners and losers in Mexico City?

Time to play matchmaker for Brandon Royval, Brandon Moreno, Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez in the aftermath of UFC Fight Night 237.

After every event, fans wonder whom the winners will be matched up with next.

With another night of UFC action in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward, put on a pair of Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard’s shoes, and play UFC matchmaker for UFC Fight Night 237’s key winning fighters.

* * * *

Manel Kape says illness, antibiotics led to UFC Fight Night 234 weight miss

Flyweight contender Manel Kape addressed why he missed weight for his UFC Fight Night 234 bout against Matheus Nicolau.

UFC flyweight contender [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] missed weight Friday morning, leading to the first UFC fight cancellation of 2024.

Kape (19-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) was scheduled to compete against Matheus Nicolau in an important co-headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, but Kape missed the flyweight limit by 3.5 pounds. Nicolau (19-4-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) initially accepted a 25 percent fine, but the promotion later announced the fight was scrapped.

Kape posted a statement on Instagram, in which he said an illness and the use of antibiotics affected his training regimen, ultimately leading to the second weight miss of his UFC career. He also stated he would give Nicolau his entire purse to save the fight, but that did not happen.

Read Kape’s full statement below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2A94x1yTvt/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Guys, I couldn’t make the weight this time, two weeks ago I was extremely sick due to a virus that happened here in Las Vegas, And I had to stay out of training for 5 days and filling myself with antibiotics,
not only affected me but many of my training partners .

My coaches and my manager thought it was better for me to cancel the fight due to the state I was in. But I decided to move on and not cancel. My opponent didn’t accept to fight or accept my purse.

I would give him my entire purse if he wants to fight. But things are as they are, and i take all the responsibilities.

Last year I had 5 fights canceled one of them my opponent was 11 LB above, even so I agreed to fight.

. Thank you to all the @ufcpi nutritionists who tried everything for me to make the weight.
See you guys Soon 🙏🏾

[lawrence-related id=2708406,2708494,2708207]

Manel Kape vs. Matheus Nicolau scratched from UFC Fight Night 234 after big weight miss

The rematch between Manel Kape and Matheus Nicolau won’t happen at UFC Fight Night 234, after all.

The rematch between [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] and [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag] won’t happen Saturday at UFC Fight Night 234, after all.

After Kape (19-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) missed weight by 3.5 pounds for his scheduled flyweight co-headliner against Nicolau (19-4-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, the bout was called off.

UFC officials announced the news Friday after it has previously claimed Nicolau had agreed to accept a 25 percent fine of Kape’s purse and the bout would go on.

The cancellation continues a difficult trend for Kape in recent years. He’s had eight fights called off since making his octagon debut in February 2021, with only six fights taking place.

He was attempting to avenge a unanimous decision loss from March 2021 against Nicolau, but now it will have to wait.

[lawrence-related id=2708406,2708439,2708408]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 234.

Matheus Nicolau out to show new tools in Manel Kape rematch at UFC Fight Night 234

Matheus Nicolau previews his rematch against Manel Kape at UFC Fight Night 234.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag] already proved he has what it takes to beat [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag]. Yet, the UFC flyweight contender plans to bring new things to the table in their rematch.

Nicolau (19-4-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) and Kape (19-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) collide for a second time this Saturday in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 234. The Brazilian is keeping in mind the things that helped him beat Kape in 2021, but he’s also looking to show new tools in the octagon.

“We always try to bring some new things,” Nicolau told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 234 media day. “I’m always training a lot, since my last fight in the beginning of last year I had a long time to train. Thank God I had no injuries, so I could focus a lot on training. That was my No. 1 focus ever, to train to get better.

“So for sure I’ll try to bring something new, and I also want to make the weapons that I already have even better, even sharper.”

Kape has already predicted a first-round finish for himself. Nicolau will try to match him, but he’s also ready to go the distance once again.

“I’m ready for the hard 15 minutes,” Nicolau said. “This is a high-level matchup so you have to be ready to fight a very hard 15 minutes., but I think the core of the martial arts is to finish the fight, so I’ll keep that in mind, but I’m in no shush to do that. I just want o keep focused and do my best performance I’ve ever done inside the octagon.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 234.

Manel Kape expects title shot vs. ‘sloppy’ Alexandre Pantoja with finish at UFC Fight Night 234

Manel Kape is confident he’s going to earn himself a title shot at UFC Fight Night 234.

LAS VEGAS – Despite having several names campaigning for a title shot, [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] is confident he’ll be the No. 1 contender.

The UFC flyweight believes he’s next for UFC flyweight champion [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] if all goes well for him in his next UFC bout. Kape (19-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) returns to the cage Saturday in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 234 in a rematch against Matheus Nicolau.

Kape is determined to secure his title shot this Saturday.

“My goal is to be a champion,” Kape told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 234 media day. “I believe that beating Matheus Nicolau, I’ll get the title shot. This is my goal. It’s obvious.”

Kape, who lost to Nicolau (19-4-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) in a split decision back in 2021, plans to not let the fight go the distance this time around. He believes that’s a key factor in him getting a shot at UFC gold.

“Of course it’s going to be dependent on how I win, and that’s going to dictate everything,” Kape said. “I’m looking for the knockout or to finish him in the first round, definitely.”

In terms of a potential showdown against Pantoja, Kape likes his chances. He wasn’t too impressed with what the champion displayed in his first title defense against Brandon Royval at UFC 296 in December.

“It was a little bit sloppy, but he did it for the win,” Kape said. “Right now, he’s got the belt so he’s going to play dirty to win, and not (do) a performance because he’s not going to expose himself, but good for him. I’m here to performance. I’m going to be me all the time: Aggressive. Hopefully. I’m going to face him this year.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 234.

UFC Fight Night 234 pre-event facts: Jim Miller, Andrei Arlovski look to build on all-time wins leads

The best facts about UFC Fight Night 234, which features chances for Jim Miller and Andrei Arlovski to add to their historic resumes.

After a nearly monthlong hiatus, the UFC opens its 2024 schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 234, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.

Light heavyweight contenders are set to rematch in the main event of the card. [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] (18-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) and [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) will run it back with five rounds scheduled after their originally meeting at UFC 294 in October ended in a no contest due to an illegal knee from Ankalaev that halted the action.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts for UFC Fight Night 234.

* * * *

Video: ‘UFC Fight Night 234: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2’ media day interviews

Before UFC Fight Night 234 on Saturday, watch as the main card athletes speak to reporters at media day.

LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 234, which takes place at the UFC Apex with a card that streams entirely on ESPN+, goes down Saturday.

Before fight night arrives, though, notable athletes from the main card spoke to reporters Wednesday at media day.

If you happen to miss any of the individual sessions on the live stream, check below for the archived videos of each media day.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 234.