In a flyweight bout on Saturday’s main card, Alexandre Pantoja and Manel Kape meet at UFC on ESPN+ 48 at the UFC’s APEX Facility in Las Vegas. The event – also known as UFC Fight Night 184 or UFC Vegas 18 – has the prelims kick off at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+, followed by the main card on ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET.
Pantoja (22-5) is looking to bounce back after a unanimous-decision setback against Askar Askarov July 18, 2020. Pantoja has lost two of his past three, although his other loss was to champ Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 240, also by UD. Three of Pantoja’s past five bouts, all victories, have come by way of stoppage, including two KO/TKOs and one submission against Yuta “Ulka” Sasaki. His go-to move, when he hits the canvas, has been the rear-naked choke.
Kape (15-4) makes his UFC debut. He hasn’t appeared in the octagon since Dec. 31, 2019 when he knocked out Kai Asakura at Rizin FF: Rizin Fighting Federation 20. Kape was scheduled to make his first appearance with the company at UFC 252, but Rogerio Bontorin was forced to pull out due to injury and a new opponent wasn’t found. Kape then suffered ligament damage to his ankle during training, costing him more time. The southpaw enters with three straight knockout wins, and 16 of his 19 career professional bouts have finished inside the distance. This will obviously be the biggest test for “Starboy,” who represents Team Thailand.
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Alexandre Pantoja vs. Manel Kape: Betting odds, predictions and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:18 a.m. ET.
PANTOJA (-120) is the more polished fighter, and he’ll slow Kape’s roll a bit. He has been popping off about “smashing” Figueiredo, but he hasn’t earned that right to talk without having faced anybody at the UFC level yet. Pantoja is a formidable force, and a solid value on the 2-way line.
As long as Pantoja can avoid the big blow and get the fight to the canvas quickly, he should be able to deal Kape a loss in his UFC debut. Play PANTOJA BY KO/TKO, DQ OR SUBMISSION (+180) on the 5-way line, and go with NO (-165): “WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? for an added bonus.
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