The UFC flyweight division has a new top contender as Manel Kape stopped Asu Almabayev in a short-notice Apex main event.
Kape was due to face Brandon Royval in the main event of UFC Vegas 103, but the bout was rearranged at the start of February. Royval had suffered concussions during camp, which forced the UFC to call up Almabayev for the fight on short notice.
After a decision defeat in a bitter grudge match with Muhammad Mokaev last summer at UFC 304 in Manchester, Kape returned to action with a big KO of Bruno Silva in December. Meanwhile in his four UFC outings and 13 outside of the octagon, Almabayev entered on a winning run for the ages.
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Manel Kape vs Asu Almabayev UFC Vegas 103 Result
A tentative start saw neither man keen to engage early. When they did, Manel Kape was winning the exchanges as he caught Asu Almabayev in the opening exchanges, although it didn’t seem as though either was too moved.
As the second minute arrived, Kape began to unload with a combination that earned his rival’s respect. Indeed, when they did throw it seemed that the number six-ranked striker was landing with more power and accuracy.
By the end of the first, Almabayev needed attention from the cutman after wearing the shots just under his left eye. Both men opened up a lot more in the second as they looked for the big shot, with Almabayev landing much more successfully.
Kape landed a huge knee to the body in the final moments of round two that was inches away from ending the fight. With seconds to go in the round, the fight was briefly stopped for an eye poke, although the review official quickly called it a legal punch, although replays were dubious.
The third began much the same way that the second had with heated exchanges, as Kape pushed the pressure towards the cage. Almabayev seemed to indicate for a time out after an eye scrape but wasn’t offered it and shot for the takedown.
Manel Kape stopped the fight with a flurry of punches soon after.
UFC Vegas 103 had stunning KOs aplenty
After a stuttering start in the prelims, UFC Vegas 103 ended up delivering some major moments of entertainment throughout the night. Two fights were pulled due to weight issues at the last minute, and after four decisions early in the night things were looking bleak.
However, that all changed when the heavyweights took to the cage. Ex-NFL star Austen Lane was left flatlined by the unbeaten Mario Pinto in a massive hard-hitting clash that set the pace for the rest of the evening.
Sam Patterson then showed impressive knockout power to end the unbeaten streak of Danny Barlow in the opening fight of the main card. And in the co-main event Cody Brundage stopped Julian Marquez after a brutal middleweight war.