Tag: Manel Kape

Manel Kape, Eric Nicksick Suggest Hotel Fight Was Planned Attack From Muhammad Mokaev’s Team Ahead Of UFC 304

UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape and his coach believe it was Muhammad Mokaev and his team’s intention to start a brawl days out from their showdown in Manchester, England. The pair of top 125lbers are set to do battle at UFC 304 this weekend, with their matchup marking one of the most important when it […]

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UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape and his coach believe it was Muhammad Mokaev and his team’s intention to start a brawl days out from their showdown in Manchester, England.

The pair of top 125lbers are set to do battle at UFC 304 this weekend, with their matchup marking one of the most important when it comes to direct implications to a divisional title picture.

And more than just their career ambitions, it would appear that both are being driven by some bad blood in this one.

That boiled over on Wednesday night at the fighter hotel, where the two fighters and their teams got into a brawl. Footage was posted by the @Home_of_Fight page on X and showed security personnel frantically attempting to pull the two sides apart.

Spur-of-the-moment brawls are nothing new in the UFC, but that’s not what one side of the scrap believes happened…

Kape & Nicksick Claim Hotel Fight Was A Set-Up

Following the incident, Kape took to social media to give his side of the story.

The former Rizin champion claimed Mokaev had respectfully asked to take a picture with him before attempting to sucker-punch him. “Starboy” berated his UFC 304 opponent for the “betrayal,” insisting his actions weren’t befitting of their shared religion and promising “carnage” from here on out.

Interestingly, Kape also made note of an altercation in Las Vegas, admitting to hitting Mokaev but doing so in a fairer way. The Angola-born Portuguese flyweight had previously denied rumors of a physical clash with “The Punisher” at the UFC’s Performance Institute.

“What kind of Muslim are you? 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 (Dagestan), because there are created men you are just a poor bastard raised on a low income in Manchester without honor and principles,” Kape wrote. “When I hit you in Vegas I went alone and I told you to be ready, 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’s claim was quickly corroborated by his coach, Xtreme Couture’s Eric Nicksick. The renowned trained told MMA Junkie that Mokaev had approached Kape under the guise of taking a photo with a “Muslim brother.” Nicksick stated that Kape was then attacked by the opposition team.

The image posted by Kape showing a cut to Mokaev’s head would appear to be from the aftermath of their Vegas clash, with the Dagestan-born Brit posting a clean-faced picture to refute suggestions he emerged damaged from their hotel fight.

Continue Reading Manel Kape, Eric Nicksick Suggest Hotel Fight Was Planned Attack From Muhammad Mokaev’s Team Ahead Of UFC 304 at MMA News.

Manel Kape Not Impressed With Muhammad Mokaev’s Undefeated Run Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘There Always Has To Be Bad Blood!’

Manel Kape recently downplayed Muhammad Mokaev’s undefeated streak in the Octagon, expressing that he remains unfazed by his opponent’s record ahead of their highly anticipated showdown at UFC 304. The two elite flyweight contenders are set to clash on the main card of the UFC’s upcoming pay-per-view event, scheduled for July 27 at the Co-op […]

Continue Reading Manel Kape Not Impressed With Muhammad Mokaev’s Undefeated Run Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘There Always Has To Be Bad Blood!’ at MMA News.

Manel Kape recently downplayed Muhammad Mokaev’s undefeated streak in the Octagon, expressing that he remains unfazed by his opponent’s record ahead of their highly anticipated showdown at UFC 304.

The two elite flyweight contenders are set to clash on the main card of the UFC’s upcoming pay-per-view event, scheduled for July 27 at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

“Starboy” enters the fight, riding a four-fight win streak. However, his momentum has been hampered in recent years due to a series of injuries, fight cancellations, and a weight miss. In his last outing, Kape secured a unanimous decision victory over Felipe dos Santos after an intense, back-and-forth battle at UFC 293 in September 2023.

In contrast, Mokaev has faced no issues with staying active since his promotional debut in 2022. He is currently on a six-fight win streak in the Octagon and remains unbeaten throughout his amateur and professional career.

Despite being overlooked for a title shot at UFC 301 in favor of Steve Erceg, who fought reigning champion Alexandre Pantoja, “The Punisher” has a chance to cement his title aspirations with another victory. He is coming off a dominant unanimous decision win against Alex Perez at the UFC Apex this past March.

Mokaev has long been calling out Kape on social media, stoking the fires of their rivalry to a fever pitch. Ahead of their fight, the verbal jabs are already flying, with the 30-year-old Portuguese fighter believing his opponent still lacks the qualities needed to impress him…

Kape Brands Himself ‘Biggest Test,’ Insists Mokaev’s Game Has Weaknesses

During a recent interview with InsideFighting, “Starboy” was questioned about his preference for matchups that come with a built-in grudge.

“There always has to be a bad blood,” Kape replied. “Because he is coming to take what is mine, you know, I’m coming to take what is yours, so there is no peace by the way between me and my opponents. Only after the fight, there is peace, but before that, there is no peace; we all want to win.”

Kape proclaimed himself as the toughest challenge “The Punisher” will ever encounter in the Octagon. The Portuguese fighter acknowledged Mokaev’s solid technique yet remained unimpressed by his undefeated streak, suggesting that the Russian-born Enlishman’s skills lack the necessary depth to truly challenge him.

“He wanted a bigger test; I’m the biggest test of this division, so there you go, you ask for something they deliver… I can’t say he impressed me because it’s difficult very for someone to impress me, but he’s doing well. I’m not impressed because I see a lot of mistakes that show the difference between an excellent fighter and a championship-material.”

Continue Reading Manel Kape Not Impressed With Muhammad Mokaev’s Undefeated Run Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘There Always Has To Be Bad Blood!’ at MMA News.

Manel Kape allegedly busted open Muhammad Mokaev with an elbow during a fight at the PI ahead of UFC 304

Manel Kape allegedly busted open Muhammad Mokaev with an elbow during a fight at the PI ahead of UFC 304Manel Kape didn’t want to wait until Manchester to get his hands on Muhammad Mokaev. Though ‘Starboy’ has only…

Manel Kape allegedly busted open Muhammad Mokaev with an elbow during a fight at the PI ahead of UFC 304

Manel Kape didn’t want to wait until Manchester to get his hands on Muhammad Mokaev.

Though ‘Starboy’ has only fought twice in the last two years — some of that being his fault, some of it not — Kape is still the No. 8 ranked contender in the flyweight division. If he can bag a big win over the undefeated ‘Punisher’ at UFC 304 on July 27, he’ll likely be next in line for a shot at reigning 125-pound titleholder Alexandre Pantoja.

Manel Kape

As it turns out, ‘Starboy’ got things started early with Mokaev during a recent run-in at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas. That comes according to Kape’s teammate Jean Silva who dished all the details during a recent interview.

“Manel Kape hit Mokaev here outside the gym a while ago,” Silva told Ag Fight. He elbowed Mokaev in the head on the street bro. Bro, he caught Mokaev at the entrance here to the [UFC] PI, he headbutted him and elbowed him, in the street. He opened Mokaev’s head a week before his fight. He’s [Kape] a psychopath.”

Manel Kape allegedly headbutted and elbowed Mokaev ahead of their UFC 304 encounter

Silva made his sophomore appearance for the promotion at UFC 303 on Saturday night, securing a knockout over Charles Jourdain in the second round. With the win, ‘Lord Assassin’ is now 2-0 inside the Octagon and is sitting on a 10-fight win streak dating back to 2018.

“The Russians here, bro, they didn’t even help, they just watched Mokaev take a d***, then Mokaev said, ‘I’m going to catch you’, he said he was going to slap Kape in the face,” Silva added. “Then [Kape] saw Mokaev and Mokaev wanted to apologize, and [Kape] said, ‘Apologies won’t be accepted, now you’ll have to do it’.

“Then Mokaev took a step back. When I went down and opened the second door, [Kape] arrived and headbutted Mokaev and elbowed him. Mokaev fell down to the ground then the Russians just watched” (h/t Bloody Elbow).

Manel Kape

Though Mokaev didn’t appear to retaliate, he only has a few short weeks before he’ll have the chance to hand Kape his receipt when the two tussle in Rainy City.

Kape vs. Mokaev

Manel Kape claims he could beat Israel Adesanya in a street fight: ‘I’m undefeated in the streets’

Manel Kape claims he could beat Israel Adesanya in a street fight: 'I'm undefeated in the streets'Manel Kape believes he could take Israel Adesanya in a street fight. During a recent appearance on the JAXXON…

Manel Kape claims he could beat Israel Adesanya in a street fight: 'I'm undefeated in the streets'

Manel Kape believes he could take Israel Adesanya in a street fight.

During a recent appearance on the JAXXON podcast with Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, ‘Starboy’ claimed that he could take ‘The Last Stylebender’ in a scrap, regardless of the size disparity between the two.

“I’m undefeated in the streets. I don’t give a f*ck. I beat already many, many, many guys of his size. I don’t give a f*ck [about his size],” Kape said. “Put him in front of me in the streets, and we’re gonna see. It’s everything in the street… I’m pretty good too, brother” (h/t MiddleEasy).

It’s a pretty bold statement coming from Kape who stands at 5’6″ and regularly fights at 125 pounds — when he actually makes weight. By comparison Adesanya is 6’4″ tall and fights at middleweight, a weight class 60 pounds heavier than the one Kape calls home.

It’s certainly not the first time Kape has had something negative to say about fighters out of City Kickboxing in New Zealand. Last year, ‘Starboy’ went in on Adesanya’s teammate, Kai Kara-France, calling him and the entire gym a “bunch of f****ts” during a post-fight interview.

Manel Kape and Adesanya

Manel Kape continues fighting for his first uFC title opportunity while Adesanya prepares for his 12th career championship scrap

Manel Kape has won his last four fights inside the Octagon. Unfortunately, the streak has done little in the way of earning him a title opportunity amid a slew of canceled clashes. ‘Starboy’ was forced to withdraw from a fight with Matheus Nicolau on two separate occasions, one of which was because he failed to make the flyweight limit.

However, it should be noted that multiple fights, including bouts with Kai Kara-France, Deiveson Figueiredo, Alex Perez, Rogério Bontorin, and Alexandre Pantoja were all scrapped for a variety of issues, none of which were Kape’s fault.

Manel Kape

As for Adesanya, the ‘Stylebender’ is primed for a big return in 2024 after losing his middleweight crown for the second time in a year. The former two-time titleholder is expected to square off with reigning 185-pound king Dricus Du Plessis when he steps back inside the Octagon, though no official announcements have been made.

Adesanya and DDP

Watch the full JAXXON podcast episode below:

Dana White refuses to force fighters to apologize for using homophobic slurs despite backlash after UFC 293

Dana White Manel Kape UFC 293The UFC president Dana White seems to be an avid believer in free speech, as he refuses to force fighters to apologize for saying things, even if those things happen to include homophobic slurs. At UFC 293, a moment of great promotional footage was ruined when UFC flyweight Manel Kape called Kai Kara France’s teammates […]

Dana White Manel Kape UFC 293

The UFC president Dana White seems to be an avid believer in free speech, as he refuses to force fighters to apologize for saying things, even if those things happen to include homophobic slurs.

At UFC 293, a moment of great promotional footage was ruined when UFC flyweight Manel Kape called Kai Kara France’s teammates a bunch of f****** at the tail end of what was a compelling callout by Kape. Earlier in the night, Charlie Radtke also said a homophobic term after his fight, which in today’s day and age is definitely not kosher.

When asked about these homophobic terms by reporters, Dana White defended his fighters and claimed they just got lost in the excitement of the moment. “I think these guys get a little excited and they make bad mistakes,” White said (H/T MMA Junkie). “Radtke did the same thing, and you know me: we didn’t run over to him and say ‘you better apologize’. He did that on his own.”

Dana White defends his fighters for homophobic slur use at UFC 293

“We make mistakes,” White continued. “I am not holier than thou either, so we’ve all been in positions where we’ve made mistakes. Like I always say, it’s how you recover from it and how you carry yourself after you make the mistake.”

“He came out and apologized on his own free will,” Dana White said. “We didn’t tell him to do anything, and the fact that he did that means he means it. I don’t make anybody apologize for anything. You do what you want. You’re grown men and women. You’re able to say what you want. He did it. He was embarrassed and he apologized. I’m sure some people will accept his apology and some people won’t.”

Both Kape and Radtke apologized for what they said, and it seems no punishment will be doled out by the UFC. It’s honestly a little bit contradictory when you reflect on the time that former UFC superstar Nate Diaz wrote a Tweet that included a homophobic slur and promptly got suspended by the UFC. The Diaz suspension happened back in 2013, roughly a decade before the famous incident on New Year’s Eve where Dana White was filmed slapping his wife across the face mid-argument.

White received no penalty for that event, and perhaps it’s even why he’s seemingly being more lenient now compared to the UFC’s actions in handling the Diaz situation back in 2013.

What do you think about Kape and Radtke saying homophobic slurs at UFC 293, and the way Dana White is handling the situation?

Manel Kape drops homophobic slur in vulgar UFC 293 post-Fight tirade at City Kickboxing fighters

Manel KapeFlyweight standout Manel Kape didn’t let Charlie Radtke have all the fun on Saturday night. ‘Starboy’ stepped into the Octagon as part of the promotion’s stacked UFC 293 main card inside the Qudos Bank Arena with late-notice replacement opponent Felipe dos Santos. Despite having two weight cuts in a relatively short period of time, dos […]

Manel Kape

Flyweight standout Manel Kape didn’t let Charlie Radtke have all the fun on Saturday night.

‘Starboy’ stepped into the Octagon as part of the promotion’s stacked UFC 293 main card inside the Qudos Bank Arena with late-notice replacement opponent Felipe dos Santos. Despite having two weight cuts in a relatively short period of time, dos Santos brought the fight to Kape throughout their three-round affair. Both fighters delivered a highly entertaining fight for the fans in Australia that ultimately saw Manel Kape score a unanimous decision win that extended his win streak to four.

Unfortunately, the 15-minute slugfest was quickly forgotten as Kape took to the mic and delivered an explicit-filled post-fight interview that largely targeted his original opponent for the event, Kai Kara-France.

“I was supposed to fight Kai Kara. You motherf*cker, you’re here. You show up, you piece of sh*t,” Manel Kape said, directing his comments toward Kara-France who was in the crowd. “You are a piece of sh*t. That’s what you are. Hey, listen guys. Listen. I’m gonna fight you next and if you refuse again to fight me, I’m going to your city. I’m going to your camp. I’m gonna spar you there and no one’s gonna do anything. You know why? All your teammates are a bunch of f****ts.

Manel Kape Wasn’t the Only Fighter to Drop the Other F-Bomb at UFC 293

It was the second such interview of the night where a fighter dropped the homophobic slur following an otherwise noteworthy victory. The first came when UFC newcomer Charlie Radtke called fans in attendance the same disgusting word as they booed his performance against Mike Mathetha, aka Blood Diamond, during the early prelims.

As he did with Radtke, Daniel Cormier quickly pulled the microphone away from Kape and wrapped up the interview.

With two separate incidents of homosexual vilification on the same night, one has to wonder what the UFC will do if anything to curb the unnecessary and downright vile insults that plagued an otherwise entertaining event in The Land Down Under.