Manel Kape and Sean Strickland trade barbs on X as beef heightens
Manel Kape and Sean Strickland have just taken aim at each other on social media, sparking a heated feud between two of the UFC's most outspoken fighters.
Manel Kape and Sean Strickland are no strangers to trash talk and feuds. Both men are among the most inflammatory personalities in the UFC, and despite Kape being a flyweight and Strickland being a middleweight, the two recently butted heads, and it is all over Strickland insulting Ali Abdelaziz, Kape's manager, on X.
Manel Kape comes to his manager's defense
The bickering between Manel Kape and Sean Strickland began after the reigning UFC middleweight champion replied to a fan on X and took the opportunity to express his hatred for Ali Abdelaziz. He even lamented the fact that Abdelaziz was not standing in front of him for him to insult. This drew Kape's attention. The streaking flyweight contender took the opportunity to blast Strickland and accuse him of faking his tough guy persona.
"Sean, it's funny how tough you act online when you're quiet face to face. You had the chance to say all that to him in person, but you said nothing. Next time, keep my friend's name out of your mouth b***h cuz you know how b***h you are b***h."
Sean, it’s funny how tough you act online when you’re quiet face to face. You had the chance to say all that to him in person, but you said nothing. Next time, keep my friend’s name out of your mouth bitch cuz you know how bitch you are bitch . @SStricklandMMA https://t.co/tIn3RdDkIj
— Manel Kape (@ManelKape) June 24, 2026
Never one to bite his tongue, Strickland responded by mocking Kape for developing gynecomastia, before accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs.
"Someone give this little girl a bra.. Manel Acup Kape... Estrogen might be a little high today.. You cycle wrong bro? You ok?"
Someone give this little girl a bra.. Manel Acup Kape... Estrogen might be a little high today.. You cycle wrong bro? You ok?
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) June 24, 2026
The pair continued to trade insults, with Strickland doubling down on his PED accusations, while Kape doubled down on his belief that Strickland's behavior is a cover for his insecurities. Strangely enough, this isn't the first time Kape has feuded with a middleweight, as he had previous issues with all-time great middleweight Israel Adesanya. The pair's verbal clash took place at the UFC 293 pre-fight press conference. Ironically, Strickland was also a part of the press conference.
When Kape went on a trash-talking tirade against Adesanya's close friend and City Kickboxing teammate Kai Kara-France, who he was scheduled to fight before Kara-France pulled out due to a concussion suffered in training, Adesanya came to Kara-France's defense. This prompted Kape to insult Adesanya, and the entire City Kickboxing team in one of his most memorable UFC moments.
