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Mick Maynard's Shoes: What's next for Manel Kape after UFC Fight Night 253 win?

Mick Maynard's Shoes: What's next for Manel Kape after UFC Fight Night 253 win?

USA Today02-03-2025
Manel Kape maintained his position as a surging flyweight title contender Saturday when he came out on the winning end of the UFC Fight Night 253 against Asu Almabayev.
Kape (21-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) chased down Almabayev (21-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) for a third-round TKO at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and is now riding some strong momentum as he looks to secure his first opportunity at gold.
'Star Boy' wants his opportunity to challenge reigning 125-pound kingpin Alexandre Pantoja, but how realistic is it at this point in time?
Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on Kape's future after his victory in the UFC Fight Night 253 headliner.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 253.
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