The animosity between Manel Kape and Muhammad Mokaev has become personal, as Kape dropped a verbal bomb. The Portuguese fighter decided to add some spice to the pre-fight stew by revealing why Mokaev no longer trains at the prestigious American Top Team (ATT).
According to Kape, it’s not just about a change of scenery or a quest for new techniques. ‘Starboy’ claimed that it was all about taps and lots of them. In a recent media day interview, Kape alleged that Mokaev’s departure from ATT was due to repeated submissions at the hands of current UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.
“Pantoja can say a lot of things about him because they trained before together, and I know Pantoja has been submitting him a lot. He tapped a lot, and that’s the reason Mokaev doesn’t train at ATT,” stated Kape.
Now, it’s worth noting that this is Kape’s version of events, and in the world of MMA, pre-fight trash talk often comes with a generous sprinkling of exaggeration. But if true, it adds an intriguing layer to the Mokaev mystique. The undefeated Dagestani-born Brit has been tearing through the flyweight division, leaving a trail of tapouts in his wake.
The two fighters are set to duke it out at UFC 304. Their bout was initially set for the main card but then demoted to the Early Prelims. The reason for that remains unknown. But one thing is clear: this animosity between the fighters guarantees a great show for the fans watching at home or in the Co-Op Arena.
Manel Kape: Muhammad Mokaev Not Ready For A Title Run
Kape and Mokaev are set to face off at UFC 304 in Manchester. ‘Starboy’ has a simple yet demoralizing message for the undefeated Brit. The former Rizin champion isn’t buying Mokaev’s hype just yet.
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Muhammad Mokaev, the undefeated Dagestani-born Brit, has been on a tear through the division. He has an impressive record of six wins in the UFC. But Manel Kape doesn’t think Mokaev has the caliber to stand against the Top five flyweights.
“In my opinion, this is too early for him, but we will see. It’s too early. There is levels to this game. He never faced a championship-caliber (fighter), and I see a lot of mistakes in his game – that’s why I say it’s too early for him,” Kape stated at the UFC 304 media day presser.
The Portuguese fighter sees himself as the litmus test for Mokaev’s title aspirations. He pointed out that Mokaev had yet to face a top-three-ranked flyweight. Kape believes such a matchup would expose flaws in Mokaev’s game. Kape’s words carry the weight of experience from his time as Rizin champion. He aims to give Mokaev a reality check and his first loss when they meet in the Octagon.
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