Expect trash talk, a frantic fight week (as we’ve already seen) and a potential #1 contender at the conclusion of the bout. Taking place on the UFC 304 prelims, Muhammad Mokaev will clash with Manel Kape at flyweight, which, realistically could be seen as a #1 contender’s bout.
The champion, Alexandre Pantoja is currently without a bout since his UFC 301 victory over Steve Erceg. When Muhammad Mkoaev meets Manel Kape in Manchester, either Mokaev will extend his undefeated run to 14 or Kape will make it five on the bounce.
The only man with more of a claim to the title opportunity is Amir Albazi, who is enjoying a six fight winning run, however, has been out of action since June 2023 with an injury. If Pantoja wants to stay active, which we believe he does, he will likely face the winner of this bout.
Mokaev’s Homecoming
Muhammad Mokaev will make the walk in his adopted Great Britain and look to make a statement and rubber stamp his position as the only possible next contender for Pantoja.
With four submissions and two dominant decisions, Mokaev has been near flawless in his UFC career thus far. His competition has slowly increased fight on fight. His last match-up against Alex Perez, on paper, was his most difficult. Perez is a former title contender and would go on to score a big knockout just a month after losing to Mokaev.
Kape feels like a slight step down in competition, however, the former Rizin man is more than capable of causing the former IMMAF star-boy all sorts of problems.
Kape’s Big Opportunity
Manel Kape is certainly a person not to miss an opportunity. He had a well-known and storied career before making his UFC debut. He won the vacant RIZIN bantamweight championship with a TKO against future UFC contender, Kai Asakura in 2019.
Since joining the UFC, despite starting his career 0-2, Kape has gone on to record four straight victories, including two finishes. He’s a brash talker and has got into it with both Israel Adesanya and Kai Kara-France in the past and Mokaev isn’t short on confidence, so expect an entertaining press conference during fight week.
The two men have already got into a brawl during fight week so who knows how the remainder of the week will go!
These two men will put it all on the line in order to try and get their hand raised on Saturday night and cement their place as the rightful next contender for the 125lbs belt.
