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

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
40 minutes ago
- USA Today
Video: UFC 316 ceremonial weigh-ins live stream from New Jersey
Video: UFC 316 ceremonial weigh-ins live stream from New Jersey NEWARK, N.J. – UFC 316 ceremonial fighter weigh-ins take place Friday, and you can catch a live video stream of the proceedings here on MMA Junkie at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT). The weigh-ins take place at Prudential Center, the same venue that hosts Saturday's event (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). In addition to the video stream above, you can check out the official UFC 316 weigh-in results from earlier in the day below.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Video: UFC 316 ceremonial weigh-ins live stream from New Jersey
NEWARK, N.J. – UFC 316 ceremonial fighter weigh-ins take place Friday, and you can catch a live video stream of the proceedings here on MMA Junkie at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT). The weigh-ins take place at Prudential Center, the same venue that hosts Saturday's event (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). Advertisement In addition to the video stream above, you can check out the official UFC 316 weigh-in results from earlier in the day below. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Video: UFC 316 ceremonial weigh-ins live stream from New Jersey
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
UFC return confirmed: Amanda Nunes isn't coming back just for a good time, but a long time
NEWARK, N.J. – Amanda Nunes is returning to the UFC for a good time but also perhaps a long time. During a fan Q&A on Wednesday at Prudential Center ahead of Saturday's UFC 316 ceremonial weigh-ins, Nunes (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC) confirmed her comeback to the cage and added that it won't be just a one-off. Advertisement "I'm ready to stay here," Nunes said. "I'm going to take the belt back. I'm going to defend as long as possible. As long as my body can handle, I'm going to be here." In recent months, Nunes has teased a comeback. She was spotted in the crowd at a press conference in March and nodded her head when it was suggested she might return. She's also posted several times cryptically on social media. Nunes' official comeback confirmation comes on the eve of a crucial fight for the women's bantamweight division as her two-time rival Julianna Peña looks to defend the title vs. Kayla Harrison, a fighter Nunes has trained with in the past. Nunes will likely face the winner, and she doesn't particularly seem to care who that is. "I love this. I'm so excited. To see my name all over, that's what I'm here for," Nunes said. "To come back, I'm ready for tomorrow. I'm ready to fight. ... I have Kayla by decision. Honestly, I'm a champion. Either one, I'm going to be ready for. Let's go." While Nunes passed on picking which fight she'd like more, she stayed respectful when she spoke of Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC). When asked about Peña (11-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) and her trash talk, Nunes wasn't as kind to "The Venezuelan Vixen." Advertisement "I just think Julianna has to shut up and fight and stop crying all the time about things," Nunes said. "Just face the girl, and that's it. Like, the girl is there. Tomorrow, Kayla is going to show up. I want to see if she shows up, as well. Kayla is going to bring it for her, though. She thinks it's going to be easy? She's delusional if she thinks it's going to be easy. Nunes, 37, retired from mixed martial arts competition in June 2023 following a successful title defense vs. Irena Aldana. The win came on the heels of a 1-1 series vs. Peña, who shockingly pulled off an upset before Nunes got her revenge. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Amanda Nunes: Bring on Kayla Harrison or Julianna Peña for UFC return