Dana White alerted for next flyweight super fight as Manel Kape calls for UFC champion after KO win

Rising flyweight Manel Kape wants Dana White to give him the UFC flyweight title shot against Alexandre Pantoja.

Dana White alerted for next flyweight super fight as Manel Kape calls for UFC champion after KO win

Manel Kape wants his title shot against Alexandre Pantoja after UFC Vegas 103 win (via Imago/X)

Rising flyweight Manel Kape headlined UFC Vegas 103 against Asu Almabayev in a much anticipated bout. Kape dominated the fight, and ultimately won it via a third round TKO. After that, the Portuguese national made his demands known to the CEO Dana White. 

Going into the fight, Kape was the betting favorite, and he fought exactly like that. Almabayev went into the fight with a 17-fight undefeated streak, but got outclassed by the ‘Starboy.’ In the octagon interview, Kape asked White and Hunter Campbell to give him the title shot against Alexandre Pantoja. 

Pay attention Pantoja and Kai Kara-France… Be ready, because I’m gonna steal that belt like nuI steal candy from my daughter.

Manel Kape via UFC Vegas 103 octagon interview
YouTube video

Kape expressed that he’s not scared of anybody and can strike and wrestle against top opponents. Pantoja is well known for his ground game and the ability to submit his opponents. He has defended his title thrice since 2023 and is in search of a new challenge. 

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Kape is ranked #6 in the UFC flyweight rankings but definitely has a strong momentum behind him. Apart from his controversial loss against Muhammad Mokaev, he has dominated most of his other opponents in recent years. In the past, Kape has already lost to Pantoja, but this time it could be different. 

Manel Kape impressed several UFC experts with his performance at UFC Vegas 103

From the start of the fight, Manel Kape managed to connect some heavy shots, which maintained the pressure on Asu Almabayev. The Kazakh fighter was hurt and tried to rely on his wrestling but wasn’t capable of doing that. Kape, on the other hand, wasn’t shying away from exchanges and eagerly looked for a finish. 

Manel Kape wins at UFC Vegas 103 against Asu Almabayev
Manel Kape wins at UFC Vegas 103 against Asu Almabayev (via X)

During the fight, Kape was accused of eye pokes, which was ruled a legal punch. In the third round, Kape forced his opponents to the cage and landed a heavy right which seemingly dropped Almabayev. It was an incredible performance which got top UFC fighters showing support for Kape to fight for the title. 

The flyweight division has always been a topic of discussion in the UFC. In the past, Dana White was once close to shutting down the division. Currently, it is facing a similar situation, but it seems like Kape has the potential to save it. It would be interesting to see how things shape out for the fighter.

Related: Dana White accused of ‘snitching’ on UFC legend amidst $5 million suing