Kape says he was lured into a situation under a banner of peace where Mokaev’s whole team could attack him.
When video of a brawl between the teams of Manel Kape and Muhammad Mokaev at the UFC 304 fighter hotel in Manchester surfaced, many immediately placed the blame on Kape. The man can’t seem to make it through a fight week without trying to brawl with someone.
But in this case, Team Kape says it was Mokaev that started this latest fracas.
Kape’s coach Eric Nicksick spoke to MMA Junkie after the incident and claimed the whole thing was a ‘set up.’ Kape was asked to take a picture with Mokaev “for our Muslim brothers,” only for Mokaev’s team to attack him moments later.
Team Mokaev and Team Kape got into a scuffle at the fighters’ hotel in Manchester. This comes amid numerous reports about their conflict earlier this year at the UFC PI#UFC304 #UFCManchester pic.twitter.com/3aCBCrzMvo
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) July 24, 2024
These pictures were taken 30 minutes apart pic.twitter.com/jRMmqg6D5i
— OverDogs Podcast | Kanpai Media (@OverDogsPodcast) July 25, 2024
“What kind of Muslim are you?” Kape wrote on X (formerly Twitter) afterward. “You gave me Salam asked to take a picture and then tried to punch me in the betrayal, i can see now you are not a child of the dagestao, because there are created men you are just a poor bastard raised on a low income in Manchester without honor and principles.”
Kape then confirmed stories that had been circulating of a prior fight between the two at the UFC Performance Institute.
“When I hit you in Vegas I went alone and I told you to be ready,” he said. I don’t hit men with their guard down or distracted or on the back. I thought everything was solved, but now the carnage will continue… Shaytan!”
Kape and Mokaev are set to fight on the early prelims of UFC 304. Let’s see if all this bad blood generates any fireworks in the cage.