Manel Kape hopes to emerge as the No. 1 contender after UFC 304.
Kape (19-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) faces Muhammad Mokayev (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in a pivotal flyweight clash on July 27 at Co-op Live in Manchester, England.
With Kape and Mokaev on winning streaks, “Starboy” is confident that handing Mokaev his first career loss will lead to a shot at UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.
“There is no other fighter,” Kape said in an interview with Grind city media. “If there was, it’s (Amir) Albazi, but Albazi is injured, so maybe he’ll have one more fight. Mokaev is the youngest fighter at the moment. He’s been making a lot of noise, he’s on a six-game winning streak.
“So, there has to be someone. That someone is me who has to end this. …I’ll do my job. I will do my job, and my job is never boring. All I’m going to do is a masterclass. Everything I do is special. Everything I do is perfect.”
Mokaev has used his wrestling to control and dominate most of his opponents, but Kape is confident he is well prepared enough to deal with him.
“I’m not focused on wrestling. I’m not focused on his wrestling strength,” Kape said. “How many fighters have you seen take me down? Even the champion Pantoja when he fought me, he didn’t take me down, do you think Mokaev will take me down? If he takes me down, I’ll do what I did to David Dvorak, I’ll rip his arm off.”
For more information on the card, visit the MMA Junkie events hub to UFC 304.
Manel Kape defeated. Felipe dos Santos | UFC 293
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves)…
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports
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Manel Kape defeated. Felipe dos Santos | UFC 293
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves)…
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports
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Manel Kape defeated. Felipe dos Santos | UFC 293
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves)…
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports
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Manel Kape defeated. Felipe dos Santos | UFC 293
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves)…
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports
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Manel Kape defeated. Felipe dos Santos | UFC 293
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves)…
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports
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Manel Kape defeated. Felipe dos Santos | UFC 293
Manel Kapé
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Manel Kape defeated. Felipe dos Santos | UFC 293
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves)…
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports
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Manel Kape defeated. Felipe dos Santos | UFC 293
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves)…
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports
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Manel Kape defeated. Felipe dos Santos | UFC 293
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves)…
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports
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Manel Kape defeated. Felipe dos Santos | UFC 293
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves)…
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports
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Manel Kape defeated. Felipe dos Santos | UFC 293
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves) fights Manel Kape (no photo)…
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves) fights Manel Kape (not pictured) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports
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Manel Kape defeated. Felipe dos Santos | UFC 293
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves)…
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports
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Manel Kape defeated. Felipe dos Santos | UFC 293
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves)…
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports
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Manel Kape defeated. Felipe dos Santos | UFC 293
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves)…
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) fights Felipe Dos Santos (blue gloves) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports
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Manel Kape defeated. Felipe dos Santos | UFC 293
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) celebrates after defeating Felipe Dos Santos…
September 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Manel Kape (red gloves) celebrates after defeating Felipe Dos Santos (not pictured) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports
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Manel Kape defeated. Felipe dos Santos | UFC 293
Manel Kape
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