Manel Kape – Page 10 – Syndication Server

UFC Fight Night 187 predictions: Edwards or Muhammad in welterweight showdown?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC Fight Night 187 main card, featuring Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad.

	Edwards vs. Muhammad	Cirkunov vs. Spann	Ige vs. Tucker	Grant vs. Martinez	Kape vs. Nicolau	Anders vs. Stewart
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2021: 18-15	Edwards (68%)	Cirkunov (51%)	Ige (65%)	Martinez (72%)	Nicolau (50.1%)	Stewart (61%)
Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2021: 25-13 2020 Champion	Edwards	Cirkunov	Ige	Martinez	Nicolau	Stewart
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2021: 24-14 2018 Champion	Muhammad	Spann	Tucker	Martinez	Nicolau	Stewart
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2021: 24-14	Edwards	Cirkunov	Ige	Martinez	Kape	Stewart
Brian Garcia @thegoze 2021: 23-15 2017 Champion	Edwards	Cirkunov	Ige	Martinez	Kape	Anders
John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2021: 23-15	Edwards	Spann	Ige	Martinez	Kape	Stewart
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2021: 23-15	Muhammad	Spann	Ige	Martinez	Kape	Anders
Simon Samano @SJSamano 2021: 22-16	Edwards	Cirkunov	Ige	Martinez	Nicolau	Stewart
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2021: 21-17	Edwards	Cirkunov	Ige	Martinez	Nicolau	Stewart
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2021: 20-18	Muhammad	Cirkunov	Ige	Martinez	Kape	Stewart
Simon Head @simonhead 2021: 20-18 2019 Champion*	Edwards	Spann	Ige	Grant	Nicolau	Stewart
Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2021: 20-18 2014 Champion	Edwards	Spann	Ige	Martinez	Kape	Anders
Nolan King @mma_kings 2021: 19-19	Edwards	Spann	Ige	Martinez	Kape	Stewart
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2021: 18-20	Muhammad	Spann	Tucker	Martinez	Nicolau	Anders

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The UFC stays on its home turf in Las Vegas this week with a welterweight clash atop the bill.

UFC Fight Night 187 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streams on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

Get action on UFC Fight Night 187: Place your legal, online bets in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA, WV at BetMGM Sportsbook. New customer offer: Risk-free first bet. Bet now!

In the main event, [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) takes on replacement opponent [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) at welterweight. Edwards is a -275 favorite at BetMGM, and he has a 9-4 lead in the picks from our 13 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Misha Cirkunov[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 6-3 UFC) meets [autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag] (18-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC) at light heavyweight. Cirkunov is a slim -125 favorite, but it’s Spann with a 7-6 edge in the picks.

It’s a close fight from a betting perspective between featherweights [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and [autotag]Gavin Tucker[/autotag] (13-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) with Ige a -155 favorite. But he has a big 11-2 lead in the picks.

[autotag]Jonathan Martinez[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) is the main card’s biggest favorite at -300 at bantamweight against [autotag]Davey Grant[/autotag] (10-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC). He’s also the biggest favorite from our staff pickers, near unanimous at 12-1.

[autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) is a -140 favorite at flyweight against [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag] (15-2-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), and he’s got just a narrow 7-6 edge in our picks.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Darren Stewart[/autotag] (12-6 MMA, 5-5 UFC) is a -185 favorite at middleweight against [autotag]Eryk Anders[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 5-5 UFC), and he’s got a big 9-4 lead in the picks.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Edwards (68 percent), Cirkunov (51 percent), Ige (65 percent), Martinez (72 percent), Nicolau (50.1 percent) and Stewart (61 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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UFC Fight Night 187: Make your predictions for Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 187 event in Las Vegas.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC Fight Night 187 main card staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC Fight Night 187 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streams on ESPN+.

Make your picks for the fights below.

UFC Fight Night 184 medical suspensions: Overeem among seven facing six-month layoffs

Alistair Overeem is among seven fighters who could be facing lengthy time off after UFC Fight Night 184.

[autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] is among seven fighters who could be facing a lengthy time off after UFC Fight Night 184.

Overeem, who suffered a fractured nose in his second-round TKO loss to Alexander Volkov in the main event, will need doctor clearance or he could be facing up to six months on the sidelines.

Joining Overeem with potential 180-day terms is [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag], who defeated newcomer [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] via unanimous decision. Pantoja must have X-rays on both hands cleared. Kape is also dealing with a hand injury of his own, and requires his right thumb to be cleared by a doctor.

MMA Junkie on Monday obtained the full list of suspensions from MixedMartialArts.com, the Association of Boxing Commissions’ official record keeper.

The full list of UFC Fight Night 184 medical suspensions includes:

Alistair Overeem: Suspended 180 days or until nasal bone fracture is cleared by ENT; also suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days.
[autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag]: No suspension.
[autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag]: No suspension.
[autotag]Frankie Edgar[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days with 45 days no contact.
[autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with 14 days no contact.
[autotag]Clay Guida[/autotag]: Needs forehead laceration cleared by doctor, otherwise suspended 30 days; minimum suspension is 21 days.
Alexandre Pantoja: Needs X-ray of both hands, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
Manel Kape: Needs doctor clearance of right thumb swelling, otherwise suspended 180 days.
[autotag]Diego Ferreira[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact.
[autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact due to left eye laceration.
[autotag]Mike Rodriguez[/autotag]: Needs MRI of left shoulder, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
[autotag]Danilo Marques[/autotag]: No suspension.
[autotag]Devonte Smith[/autotag]: Needs X-ray of right hand and wrist, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
[autotag]Justin Jaynes[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact due to left eye swelling.
[autotag]Karol Rosa[/autotag]: Needs X-ray of left hand, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
[autotag]Joselyne Edwards[/autotag]: Needs doctor clearance for left shoulder sprain, otherwise suspended 180 days.
[autotag]Molly McCann[/autotag]: No suspension.
[autotag]Lara Procopio[/autotag]: No suspension.
[autotag]Seungwoo Choi[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with 14 days no contact.
[autotag]Youssef Zalal[/autotag]: No suspension.
[autotag]Timur Valiev[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with 14 days no contact.
[autotag]Martin Day[/autotag]: No suspension.
[autotag]Ode Osbourne[/autotag]: No suspension.
[autotag]Jerome Rivera[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact.

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UFC Fight Night 184 results: Alexandre Pantoja spoils debut of Manel Kape, earns unanimous decision nod

Former RIZIN bantamweight champion Manel Kape was unsuccessful in his UFC debut.

[autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] played the role of spoiler at UFC Fight Night 184.

The No. 5 flyweight in the UFC’s rankings, Pantoja (23-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) rudely welcomed [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] to the promotion by handing the debuting former RIZIN bantamweight champion a unanimous decision loss (29-28, 29-28, 30-27).

The flyweight bout was part of the UFC Fight Night 184 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It streamed on ESPN+.

For the majority of three rounds, Pantoja found success in both the quality and quantity of his striking attack. His kicks and footwork, especially in Round 2, were one of a series of difference-makers in picking apart Portugal’s Kape.

Kape (15-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) remained seemingly calm for the duration of the three rounds as he taunted from time to time and even attempted a handstand kick. As the fight progressed, Kape found his rhythm. However, the clock was not on his side. The final two minutes of the fight were perhaps Kape’s best, but his success wasn’t enough to get him the nod from the judges.

Non-stop final minute! How'd you score this one? 🗳 #UFCVegas18 pic.twitter.com/2h6CT9fGdq

— UFC (@ufc) February 7, 2021

Pantoja’s win bumps him up to 2-1 in his most recent three fights. Prior to a loss to Askar Askarov, Pantoja knocked out Matt Schnell. In his UFC tenure, Pantoja has only suffered losses to Askarov, Dustin Ortiz, and UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo.

For Kape, the loss snaps a three-fight winning streak. Kape entered the UFC as a RIZIN bantamweight champion when he signed with the promotion in early 2020. Thrice Kape was booked for his promotional debut before it came to fruition.

At UFC 256 in December, Kape served as a backup fighter for the UFC flyweight title fight between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno at UFC 256 in December.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 184 results include:

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UFC Fight Night 184: Manel Kape virtual media day interview

Manel Kape spoke to the media ahead of UFC Fight Night 184 in Las Vegas.

UFC Fight Night 184: Make your predictions for Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 184 event in Las Vegas.

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC Fight Night 184 event staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC Fight Night 184 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streams on ESPN+.

Make your picks for the six main card fights below.

UFC books Alexandre Pantoja vs. Manel Kape for December 19 event

Former Rizin champion Manel Kape’s UFC debut is set to take place before the year ends.

[autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] will finally make his UFC debut when he takes on one of the flyweight division’s top contenders.

Kape (15-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will face [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] (22-5 MMA, 6-3 UFC) on Dec. 19 in the promotion’ final event of the year at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous since the UFC has yet to make an official announcement.

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Kape, a former Rizin FF bantamweight champion, was scheduled to make his UFC debut against Rogerio Bontorin on Aug. 15, but his fight was scrapped after Bontorin was forced out because of an ankle injury. Kape has won his past three fights, all by finish.

After a three-fight winning streak, Pantoja has seen his momentum take a halt, losing two of his past three. He is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Askar Askarov at UFC on ESPN+ 30 in July.

With the addition, the UFC’s Dec. 19 lineup includes:

Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Antonio Braga Neto vs. Deron Winn
Belal Muhammad vs. TBA
Tafon Nchukwi vs. Jamie Pickett
Rob Font vs. Marlon Moraes
Rick Glenn vs. Carlton Minus
Tyson Nam vs. Matt Schnell
Manel Kape vs. Alexandre Pantoja

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Manel Kape to make UFC debut against Rogerio Bontorin at UFC 252

Former Rizin FF bantamweight champion Manel Kape will look to gatecrash the flyweight Top 10 as he takes on Rogerio Bontonin on his debut at UFC 252.

Former Rizin bantamweight champion [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] will look to instantly blast his way into title contention as he faces Top 10 opposition on his octagon debut.

Kape (15-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will take on No. 9-ranked flyweight contender [autotag]Rogerio Bontorin[/autotag] at UFC 252, which is scheduled to take place on August 15 at a venue to be confirmed.

Kape recently confirmed the fight on his Facebook page after an initial report from Combate earlier this month.

After going 9-1 on the regional scene in Portugal, Kape built his name during a nine-fight stint with Japanese promotion Rizin FF. His tenure in Japan saw him go 6-3 with the promotion, with all six victories coming by way of stoppage. He arrives in the UFC’s flyweight division riding a three-fight win streak, with his most recent performance featuring an eye-catching second-round knockout of Kai Asakura as he captured the Rizin FF bantamweight title.

Now a UFC fighter, Kape will take on Bontorin (16-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC), who is looking to bounce back to form after suffering the second loss of his professional career. A graduate of the inaugural season of Dana White’s Contender Series, Bontorin picked up UFC victories over Magomed Bibulatov and Raulian Paiva before dropping a unanimous decision to former title challenger Ray Borg at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in February.

UFC 252 takes place Saturday, August 15 at a venue to be confirmed. The card airs on ESPN+ pay per view following prelims on ESPN+ and ESPN.

The latest UFC 252 lineup now includes:

Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier
Livinha Souza vs. Ashley Yoder
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba
Felice Herrig vs. Virna Jandiroba
Junior Dos Santos vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Rogerio Bontorin vs. Manel Kape
Zelim Imadaev vs. Laureano Staropoli

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UFC signs RIZIN champ Manel Kape to multi-fight deal

RIZIN bantamweight champion Manel Kape is headed to the UFC.

[autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] is headed to the UFC.

RIZIN bantamweight champion Kape (15-4 MMA, 0-0 (FC) has signed a four-fight deal with the UFC. Kape’s team, AKA Thailand, confirmed the news Monday after an initial report by Combate.

Kape arrived on the national spotlight in the RIZIN Fighting World Grand Prix 2017. After he defeated Erson Yamamoto with a 71-second head-kick knockout, he was matched up with former UFC flyweight title challenger Ian McCall in the second round of the tournament.

At the pre-fight weigh-ins, Kape and McCall engaged in a physical altercation. After Kape slapped McCall in the back of the head, McCall fired back. The scuffle built the hype around the fight, which Kape ultimately won by first-round doctor’s stoppage due to a cut.

From there, Kape lost three out of four fights to Kyoji Horiguchi, Kai Asakura and Ulka Sasaki. In April 2019, Kape kicked off a three-fight winning streak with a second-round TKO of Seiichiro Ito. At RIZIN 18 in August, Kape finished Takeya Mizugaki by strikes.

In his most recent outing, Kape avenged a past loss. At RIZIN 20 in December, Kape knocked out Asakura with punches in Round 2. The win earned him the RIZIN title and ultimately segued into his UFC deal.

No date or opponent for Kape’s debut is known at this time.

Breaking!!! @AKAThailand’s @ManelKape signs 4-fight deal with the @UFC!!https://t.co/fjjrqKrClB

— AKA Thailand (@AKAThailand) March 30, 2020

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