“Starboy” will not be fighting for a title next.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Flyweight contender Manel Kape scored a big win at UFC Tampa last night (Sat., Dec. 14, 2024) when he snapped Bruno Silva’s win streak by stopping him in the third round via technical knockout (TKO) from inside Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. (watch highlights).
After his massive win while getting kicked in the balls three times, Kape tried to steal the show during his in-cage post-fight interview by trashing several people he has had beef with while also calling for a title shot.
“F–ck Kai Kara-France,” Kape said. “F–ck [Brandon] Moreno. F-ck [Israel] Adesanya. I’m the next one against Pantoja. I’m the one who can destroy Pantoja. Dana put me in a fight against Pantoja. I’m the new PPV star at Flyweight. No one can be like me. I’m terrific. I’m the best.”
“Starboy” also shouted at UFC CEO Dana White after his win, to which the UFC head honcho said, “We’ll talk in five minutes.”
Unfortunately for Kape, he will not get a title fight with Alexandre Pantoja, according to White.
“He said [after the fight], ‘You know why, this, that, etc.’ And I said, ‘Well, let’s finish this one first. You’ve got five more minutes.’ So, he went out, and he did it. No, he’s not getting a title shot, but we’ll definitely give him what he’s looking for,” White told the media during the post-fight press conference (watch here).
So if Kape isn’t getting a Flyweight title shot next, what exactly is White inferring when he says, “We’ll definitely give him what he’s looking for.”
Is it a No. 1 contender fight? Is it another main event spot? Is it a grudge match with Kara-France? Is it a ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus (he didn’t get it)? A Kai Asakura trilogy? A request for Mike Beltran to be fired?
The mixed martial arts (MMA) world may never know.
…until someone asks him next week.
For complete UFC Tampa results and play-by-play, click here.