Manel Kape is all set to shake up the flyweight rankings this Saturday. He’s confident that a stoppage will catapult him to the top of the queue.
Currently, Kape is ranked No. 6 in the flyweight division. He’s scheduled to go head-to-head with No. 5-ranked Matheus Nicolau at UFC Fight Night 234 this weekend.
The flyweight title picture is a bit muddled at the moment. However, Kape believes a decisive win over Nicolau should clear any doubts about his standing as the No. 1 contender.
Kape’s ultimate goal? To be a champion. He’s convinced that defeating Nicolau will get him a shot at the title. “This is my goal. It’s obvious… Of course, it’s going to depend on how I win, and that’s going to dictate everything,” he said during media day on Wednesday.
He’s gunning for a knockout or a first-round finish. That’s his game plan.
Kape is also seeking to settle an old score. He suffered a split decision loss to Nicolau back in 2021. Since then, he’s been on a roll, winning four consecutive bouts. His most recent victory was a decision win over Felipe dos Santos at UFC 293 in September.
Nicolau, on the other hand, is looking to bounce back. His six-fight winning streak was broken by Brandon Royval in April 2023.
Meanwhile, Alexandre Pantoja is still basking in the glow of his first successful title defense. He beat Brandon Royval in a trilogy clash at UFC 296 last month. Despite Pantoja’s impressive performances against Moreno and Royval, Kape is optimistic about his chances in a potential face-off.
Kape had some thoughts on Pantoja’s style. “It was a little bit sloppy, but he did it for the win,” he 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 perform. I’m going to be me all the time: Aggressive. Hopefully. I’m going to face him this year.”
UFC Fight Night 234’s main event will be a light heavyweight showdown between Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker.