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
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Two of the
Ultimate Fighting Championship’s most talented flyweights can’t
seem to understand that they aren’t allowed to fight until the cage
door closes.
On Wednesday during
UFC 304 fight week, the teams of Manel Kape
(19-6) and Muhammad
Mokaev (12-0, 1 NC) threw down inside of the fighters’ hotel in
Manchester, England. This is not the first time the two entourages
reportedly scrapped, as UFC featherweight Jean Silva
claimed that a scuffle erupted at the UFC Performance Institute
earlier in the month. Per
MMA Fighting, Kape later suggested that rumors of that
encounter might have been greatly exaggerated. The same cannot be
said about Wednesday’s ordeal, as it was caught on video by
Red
Corner MMA.
According to coach Eric Nicksick, who appears in the images trying
to break up the confusion, it all started after Mokaev asked to
take a photo with Kape and allegedly threw a surprise punch at his
rival. Nicksick’s version is in line with what Kape said, who
accused Mokaev on social media of coming at him out of nowhere.
“What kind of Muslim are you,” Kape accused. “You greeted me, asked
to take a photo and tried to punch me. I can see now that you are
not a son of Dagestan, because men are raised there. You are just a
poor bastard raised in Manchester without honor and
principles.”
Even though Kape denied the initial incident in Las Vegas, the veil
might have fallen as he let slip a few details that may actually
confirm Kape struck his adversary ahead of their scheduled
bout.
“When I hit you in Vegas, I went alone and warned you beforehand,”
Kape noted. “I don’t hit distracted men with their guard down or
with their backs turned. I thought everything was resolved, but the
carnage continues…Shaytan.”
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When the first fracas allegedly went down, Silva put up a live chat
on his Instagram to document the proceedings.
“This guy is truly crazy,” Silva remarked. “He opened Mokaev’s head
here at the entrance to the PI. First, he gave a headbutt and then
an elbow. There was a huge cut on his forehead a week before the
guy’s fight. He was alone and Mokaev was with a group of Russians
who looked scared.”
Following Silva’s comments, Kape appeared in the video, where he
said in Portuguese, “I’m going to hit him for the second time now.”
The promotion has not indicated whether the competitors or their
teams will be punished for their actions, and the fight is
currently still on target for the UFC 304 prelims.