Day: 2. März 2025

😅 Love this. Manel Kape actually breaking down Alexandre Pantoja’s flaws instead of giving the usual ‘He’s going to find out’ response.

These two respect each other and it seems like the next Flyweight title fight 🏆🎥 @ufc pic.twitter.com/ClM99mvUft

— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) March 2, 2025

Advertisement

Manel Kape (21-7) recently laid down his gameplan to beat Alexandre Pantoja (29-5) in a potential title fight.

Kape took on Asu Almabayev in the main event at UFC Vegas 103 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday. “Starboy” put on a striking masterclass, beating down Almabayev to force the finish in the third round. The Kazakh had not been beaten in 17 outings since 2017. However, it must be noted that two eye scrapes from Kape went unpenalized, including one that started the finishing sequence.

Regardless, Kape’s stock skyrocketed after the entertaining win, leading to his name being pitched as the next flyweight title cont…

[embedded content]

Tom Aspinall isn’t exactly moving on from Jon Jones just yet, but he is willing to consider the possibility of facing other opponents.

Advertisement

Jones returned from hiatus at UFC 309, where he defeated Stipe Moicic to retain the heavyweight title this past November. “Bones” implied that it would require a significant payday to entice him to face Aspinall, the reigning interim heavyweight king, in a championship unification bout. UFC CEO Dana White has expressed optimism that the fight would eventually happen, but thus far, there have been no significant updates on that front.

According to Aspinall, any delay is coming from Jones’ side.

“Where we’re at right now is, I have spoke to the UFC on multiple occasions on this fight,” Aspinall said on his YouTube channel. “I’m chasing it. I want the fight. I’ve been on record and said that I want the fight. I’ve been on the phone with the UFC saying, ‘I want the fight. When’s it happening?’ …

Don’t tell Manel Kape that his latest victory was marred by a few uncalled fouls.

Advertisement

“Starboy” won for the sixth time in his last seven outings, defeating Asu Almabayev via stoppage at the 2:16 mark of the third round in the UFC Vegas 103 headliner on Saturday night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. While Kape was sharp throughout the contest, replays showed that that Almabayev suffered multiple eye rakes prior to the finish. However, despite Almabayev’s protests, none of those were acknowledged by referee Mike Beltran. According to Kape, it was up to the veteran official to step in if a foul was committed.

“That’s not my job,” Kape said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “I didn’t see nothing. I think the [referee] should be more attentive. I’ve suffered so [much] stuff in the Octagon, so I don’t know. It was clear, for what I’ve seen, it was good. [He] could see me good. If he was not able to fight, if I think he was really stopping, so he was c…