Manel
Kape expects to leap the flyweight queue with a stoppage on
Saturday.
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Currently ranked No. 6 at flyweight, Kape (19-6) is slated to take
on No. 5-ranked Matheus
Nicolau (19-3) in the co-main event at
UFC Fight Night 234 this weekend. While the flyweight title
picture is in a bit of a logjam, Kape believes a stoppage win over
Nicolau should leave no doubt regarding his status as the No. 1
contender.
“My goal is to be a champion. I believe that beating Matheus
Nicolau — I’ll get the title shot. This is my goal. It’s obvious…
Of course it’s going to be dependent on how I win, and that’s going
to dictate everything. I’m looking for the knockout or to finish
him in the first round; definitely,” Kape said Wednesday during
media day.
Kape will look to avenge a split decision loss dating back to 2021
when he faces Nicolau. Kape has since racked up four consecutive
wins, with a decision victory over Felipe
dos Santos in his last outing at
UFC 293 in September. On the other hand, Nicolau had a
six-fight winning streak snapped against Brandon
Royval in April 2023.
Meanwhile, Alexandre
Pantoja (26-5) is fresh off his first successful title defense
in a trilogy clash against Brandon
Royval at
UFC 296 last month. Despite the champ’s performance against
Moreno and Royval, Kape fancies his chances against Pantoja in a
clash.
“It was a little bit sloppy, but he did it for the win,” said Kape.
“Right now, he’s got the belt so he’s going to play dirty to win,
and not [do] a performance because he’s not going to expose
himself, but good for him. I’m here to perform. I’m going to be me
all the time: Aggressive. Hopefully. I’m going to face him this
year.”
UFC Fight Night 234 will be headlined by a light heavyweight
meeting between Magomed
Ankalaev and Johnny
Walker.