Tag: Manel Kape

Manel Kape apologizes for homophobic slur during Kai Kara-France callout at UFC 293

Manel Kape called out Kai Kara-France after winning at UFC 293, but used anti-gay language that prompted an apology.

SYDNEY – From throwing water bottles at a press conference to winning a Fight of the Night battle, and then needing to issue an apology for homophobic language during his post-fight interview, [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] had a tumultuous fight week.

At the UFC 293 pre-fight press conference, Kape (19-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) didn’t give his opponent Felipe dos Santos much attention, and instead focused on the man he was originally slated to face at the event, Kai Kara-France. After withdrawing due to concussion symptoms, Kara-France showed up to the press conference in support of his City Kickboxing teammates on stage. Kape launched verbal attacks and a water bottle in his direction.

On fight night, Kape found himself in a war against the UFC newcomer dos Santos, who gave Kape a few scares over 15 minutes. Kape won by unanimous decision, and the exciting battle later earned the Fight of the Night award.

During his post-fight interview, Kape once again turned his attention to Kara-France, but unfortunately delivered a homophobic slur during his callout.

“Yeah, I am sorry for that,” Kape told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “It’s emotional, you know. During the fight, during the interview, we are all emotions. We say things that we didn’t want to say, but for (those) who feel bad about that, I apologize.”

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While Kape was sorry for his use of words, he maintained his vitriol for Kara-France’s withdrawal from their scheduled bout. “Starboy” said he is currently dealing with a “big” injury that may require surgery, but still showed up to compete for what he planned to be a title-eliminator bout against Kara-France.

“A win on this night was supposed to be to fight next for the title,” Kape said. “I just believe that they are a little bit hypocritical, because their team says they have to go into with injuries, they have to fight. They talked about Dricus (Du Plessis) about Israel Adesanya, he didn’t fight because of injuries. What happened to Kai Kara? We didn’t know really what happened, you know? So, this is my question to him.

“… I go into (fights with) injuries. This is the mentality of the champ, you know? I’m not going to waste the time of anyone, and I’m not going to waste my time.”

Kape, who currently holds the No. 12 spot in the latest MMA Junkie/USA TODAY Sports flyweight rankings, hopes Kara-France (No. 9) will sign to fight him again. He wants the fight to be for five rounds, but not a headliner of a Fight Night event. Kape wants it to take place on another pay-per-view event as originally planned.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 293.

UFC 293 post-event facts: Sean Strickland starts a new era at 185 pounds

The best facts to come out of UFC 293, which saw Sean Strickland force a changing of the guard with his title win over Israel Adesanya.

The UFC’s return to Sydney after nearly six years produced one of the most shocking main event results of the year as the middleweight title changed hands at Qudos Bank Arena.

[autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (28-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC) closed out UFC 293 with a massive unanimous decision upset of [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) to take the belt and force a reset at the top of the middleweight rankings.

For more on the numbers from the title bout, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 293.

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UFC 293 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Sean Strickland gets $32,000 for title win

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 293 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $209,000.

SYDNEY – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 293 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $209,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC 293 took place at Qudos Bank Arena in Australia. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

The full UFC 293 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

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[autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Felipe dos Santos[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Austen Lane[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Tyson Pedro[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Anton Turkalj[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Carlos Ulberg[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Da Woon Jung[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Chepe Mariscal[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jack Jenkins[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jamie Mullarkey[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]John Makdessi[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Nasrat Haqparast[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Landon Quinones[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Charlie Radtke[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Blood Diamond[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Gabriel Miranda[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Shane Young[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Kevin Jousset[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Kiefer Crosbie[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $5,944,500
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $20,533,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 293.

UFC 293 results: Manel Kape out-battles Felipe Dos Santos, uses anti-gay slur while insulting City Kickboxing

Daniel Cormier (for the second time at UFC 293) ended an in-cage interview short after an anti-gay slur was uttered.

[autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] got the job done Saturday at UFC 293, but it didn’t come easily.

Despite his lack of name recognition, his debutant status, and it being a short-notice fight, [autotag]Felipe Dos Santos[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) wowed many MMA fans and even Kape (19-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) by his performance in a unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) loss.

UFC 293 took place Saturday at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. The flyweight fight aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews/ESPN+ and early prelims on ESPN+.

Throughout the course of their fight, Kape was largely in control but Dos Santos had moments, too – with particular striking success in Round 1 and Round 3. But Kape kept on the attack. He was persistent and slowly damaged the face of Dos Santos, a 22-year-old from Brazil. When the dust settled and nearly 15 minutes of striking was behind them, Kape was declared the winner.

After he showed his respect to Dos Santos, Kape turned his attention to the rest of the flyweight division and in particular rival Kai Kara-France, who was his original UFC 293 opponent before a withdrawal. Kape verbally assaulted Kara-France with an expletive-filled rant that also included an anti-gay slur, which was also used earlier in the night by prelim winner Charlie Radtke.

“All these motherf*ckers that are booing, all these motherf*ckers that are No. 2, 3, 4, they not accept to fight me because they are f*cking scared,” Kape said in the cage with Daniel Cormier. “I was supposed to fight Kai Kara. You motherf*cker you are hidden. You show up, you piece of sh*t. You are a piece of sh*t. This is what you are. Hey, hey, listen guys, seriously, listen. I’m going to fight you next.

“I’m going to fight you next and if you refuse again to fight me or pull two weeks out from the fight, I’m going to your city. I’m going to your academy. I’m going to spar you there. I’m going to f*cking spar you there. Hey, hey, listen. No one is going to do anything. Do you know why? All your teammates are a bunch of (slur).”

Kape has now won four fights in a row after a 0-2 promotional start. Dos Santos loses for the first time as a professional.

Up-to-the-minute results of UFC 293 include:

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 293.

Kai Kara-France reacts to Manel Kape’s attack during UFC 293 press conference: ‘All I see is insecurities’

UFC flyweight contender Kai Kara-France reacts to Manel Kape’s attack during Thursday’s UFC 293 press conference in Sydney.

SYDNEY – [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag] and [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] had a fiery back and forth at the UFC 293 pre-fight press conference – more so than Kape and his actual opponent Felipe dos Santos.

Both Kara-France and Kape were originally scheduled to fight this Saturday in on the main card of UFC 293, but Kara-France was forced to withdraw from the fight due to injury, leaving Kape with dos Santos as a replacement.

Kape was not happy with the switch and made sure Kara-France felt it during the UFC 293 press conference where Kape insulted Kara-France, who was in attendance in the crowd, and even threw him a water bottle.

“The thing about that is that all I see is insecurities,” Kara-France said regarding the interaction with Kape when asked at the UFC 293 Q&A on Friday. “He’s obviously a bit unstable. He should be worried about his opponent that’s in front of him. Don’t worry about me. We’re not fighting.

“That’s probably the worst thing you can do, overlook your opponent. I know when I fought Cody Garbrandt, he was trying to fight Sean and not me. Similar situation. Focus on what’s in front of you. I feel like that fight will happen between me and Manel, but I’m just here to support my teammates.”

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Kara-France was looking to snap a two-fight losing streak at UFC 293. Prior to the two defeats, Kara-France had three consecutive wins that had placed him as a title contender in the division.

The 30-year-old is confident it’s just a matter of time he finds himself knocking on the door of the title again.

“I feel like the next one in line is going to be Brandon Royval,” Kara-France said regarding the title picture. “He’s probably the next in line. But whoever it is, I know it’s going to be exciting. I just have to take it one fight at the time, but I’ll be back in the title picture. I just have to keep my head down, get healthy, and I’ll be back.”

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UFC 293 video: Manel Kape throws water bottles at Kai Kara-France, Israel Adesanya intervenes

Israel Adesanya came to his teammate Kai Kara-France’s defense after Manel Kape threw at water bottle at him during the UFC 293 presser.

SYDNEY – [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] came to his teammate [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag]’s defense after [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] went off on him.

Kape (18-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) was originally scheduled to face Kara-France (24-11 MMA, 7-4 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 293 event at Qudos Bank Arena, but Kara-France was forced out due to a concussion suffered in training. Kape will face newcomer Felipe dos Santos (7-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) instead.

Kara-France was in attendance during Thursday’s UFC 293 press conference, and Kape had some harsh words towards him, which prompted middleweight champion Adesanya to intervene. Kape threw water bottles at Kara-France which kicked off the altercation.

“Unfortunately, Kai Kara-France is a b*tch,” Kape said during Thursday’s press conference. “A f*cking b*tch. He’s in front of me and you’re f*cking guilty because Sunday, this is going to be a murder because of you, you f*cking p*ssy. Afraid – you had three weeks to fight me. You little f*cking p*ssy. Look at you, you have the courage to come here. Yes! Stand up motherf*cker! Stand the f*ck up motherf*cker.”

Kape did not back down from Adesanya either, hurling insults towards “The Stylebender.” An entertained Tai Tuivasa who was in the middle tried to calm things down, as well as Sean Strickland who chimed in.

“What do you want?” Kape turned to a standing Adesanya. “Sit the f*ck down… Shut your mouth. Your f*cking porn cartoon addiction.”

You can watch their full exchange in the video above.

UFC 293 takes place Saturday at Qudos Bank Arena. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews/ESPN+ and early prelims on ESPN+.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 293.

Video: ‘UFC 293: Adesanya vs. Strickland’ media day interviews

Before UFC 293 on Saturday, the main card and prelim fighters are scheduled to speak to reporters at media day.

SYDNEY – The UFC 293, which takes place at Qudos Bank Arena with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNNews/ESPN+ and early prelims on ESPN+, goes down Saturday.

Before fight night arrives, though, notable athletes from the main card and preliminary are scheduled to speak to reporters Wednesday at media day,.

If you happen to miss any of the individual sessions, check below for the archived videos of each media day (Story will update throughout the session).

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 293.

UFC 293 pre-event facts: Israel Adesanya brings elite resume into Sydney headliner

The best facts and figures about UFC 293, which sees Israel Adesanya attempt to close in on Anderson Silva’s title-fight wins record.

The UFC returns to Sydney for the first time in nearly six years Saturday with UFC 293, which goes down at Qudos Bank Arena and features a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

A middleweight championship showdown serves as the main event of the card. [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] (24-2 MMA, 13-2 UFC) will attempt to make the first defense of his second title reign when he puts gold on the line against outspoken contender [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (27-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC).

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 about UFC 293.

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Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Aug. 21-27)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Aug. 21-27.

Manel Kape gets scratched Dana White’s Contender Series fighter as UFC 293 replacement

A UFC 293 flyweight bout between ranked flyweights will instead feature one ranked fight vs. a promotional newcomer.

How’s this for a downgrade? Or upgrade depending on the perspective.

After Kai Kara-France declared himself out of his UFC 293 bout against [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] on Monday, [autotag]Felipe dos Santos[/autotag] has been tabbed to replace him at the Sept. 9 pay-per-view event from Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

Two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie after an initial report from MMA Fighting. The people requested anonymity since the UFC hasn’t made an official announcement.

The new matchup means Kape, who’s No. 10 in the official UFC flyweight rankings, goes from meeting a fighter ranked ahead of him (Kara-France is No. 5) to welcoming a promotional newcomer. Dos Santos was slated to compete Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series 59, but his opponent, Luciano Pereira, didn’t weigh in because of medical issues. Now dos Santos, 22, gets a golden opportunity to make an immediate splash jumping into the biggest fight of his life on less than three weeks’ notice.

Dos Santos is 7-0 in his professional career, most recently winning a unanimous decision vs. Hugo Paiva under the LFA banner last November.

Kape (18-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) is riding three straight wins after a rocky 0-2 start to his UFC tenure. After joining the UFC in February 2021, he dropped fights against Alexandre Pantoja and Matheus Nicolau. Since then, he’s beaten Ode Osbourne, Zhalgas Zhumagulov, and David Dvorak.

With the change, here is the updated UFC 293 lineup:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+ pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland
  • Tai Tuivasa vs. Alexander Volkov
  • Felipe dos Santos vs. Manel Kape
  • Austen Lane vs. Justin Tafa
  • Tyson Pedro vs. Anton Turkalj

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPNNews, ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Da Woon Jung vs. Carlos Ulberg
  • Jack Jenkins vs. Chepe Mariscal
  • John Makdessi vs. Jamie Mullarkey

PRELIMINARY CARD, (ESPNNews, ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET)

  • Blood Diamond vs. Charlie Radtke
  • Gabriel Miranda vs. Shane Young
  • Viviane Araujo vs. Casey O’Neill

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 293.