After accepting an injury replacement on short notice, Manel Kape held serve in the UFC Fight Night 253 and moved closer to his first flyweight title shot.
Originally scheduled to fight former title challenger Brandon Royval, who withdrew due to a concussion, Kape (21-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) showed he belongs near the top of the weight class when he defeated the surging Asu Almabayev (21-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) by third-round TKO on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Kape beating Almabayev at UFC Fight Night 253.
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The main event has made it’s way to the APEX! 😎@ManelKape vs Asu Almabayev is LIVE NOW on @ESPNPlus #UFCVegas103 pic.twitter.com/vkLNemnyjI
— UFC (@ufc) March 2, 2025
The main event of #UFCVegas103 is here!
Who wins: Manel Kape or Asu Almabayev? 👇
Full coverage: https://t.co/S5V737cEX4 pic.twitter.com/l1GaLD885c
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) March 2, 2025
MAIN EVENT TIME #UFCVegas103 pic.twitter.com/BRLw0a7wd8
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) March 2, 2025
Kape finding his range and fighting beautifully so far!
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) March 2, 2025
10-9 Kape after R1. Clean work from him thus far.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) March 2, 2025
Kape’s speed is blinding for Almabayev. #UFCVegas103
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) March 2, 2025
“Star Boy” looks smooth tonight. In good shape too.
Two top coaches in each corner, Nicksick and Hooft.#UFCVegas103
— Gorgeous George (@MMAJunkieGeorge) March 2, 2025
20-18 Kape. Almabayev needs to get something going here pretty quickly. #UFCVegas103
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) March 2, 2025
Give that man a title shot
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) March 2, 2025
Kape is explosive but he also cheated like crazy in that UFC main event. Eye scrapes were a huge factor #UFCVegas103
— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) March 2, 2025
Manel Kape fights for the belt next!! Great performance! #UFCVegas103
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) March 2, 2025
Kape is deserving of a title fight! Looked amazing and in total control tonight
— Aiemann Zahabi (@Aiemannzahabi) March 2, 2025
#UFCVegas103 results: Manel Kape (@ManelKape) def. Asu Almabayev via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 2:16
Full coverage: https://t.co/S5V737cEX4 pic.twitter.com/CYMt6R6JmF
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) March 2, 2025
Eye pokes are the greatest threat to the growth of this sport (unbiased) #UFCVegas103
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) March 2, 2025
There’s only one best flyweight in the world 😉
— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) March 2, 2025
What if they just made the eye pokes legal?
— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) March 2, 2025
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