Preview: UFC Fight Night 184 Main Card

Flyweights

No. 5 | Alexandre Pantoja (22-5, 6-3 UFC) vs. NR | Manel Kape (15-4, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: Pantoja (-135), Kape (+115)

The UFC is slowly rebuilding its flyweight division, and Kape is the latest exciting addition to the proceedings. The Angolan-Portuguese standout made his name in Rizin Fighting Federation, first as a knockout artist and then as one of the better fighters in the promotion. His 2019 campaign saw “Prodigio” put together a three-fight winning streak that included a victory over UFC vet Takeya Mizugaki and a bantamweight title win over Kai Asakura. However, 2020 saw an attempted UFC debut repeatedly fall through. Now Kape finally gets to show his wares inside the Octagon against a tough opponent in Pantoja. Brazil’s “Cannibal” was one of the favorites to win the all-flyweight season of “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2016, but despite falling short in the semifinals, Pantoja has been able to carve out a niche as one of the most entertaining fighters at 125 pounds. Why? His willingness to fight like an absolute maniac and take the fight anywhere, whether it is sparking a brawl or taking things to the mat to hunt for a fight-ending submission. That comes with its drawbacks, however. Pantoja has found himself tired late in fights, and while he is a talented submission artist, he has also been neutralized by better and stronger wrestlers. This is a difficult fight to call outside of the guarantee that it should descend into madness sooner rather than later. Kape usually favors a slower sniper’s pace and could be forced to keep up with the Brazilian, but again, Pantoja is just as likely to get tired, assuming both men survive to the later rounds. Between Pantoja’s recklessness and lack of game planning, plus the fact that Kape is the better athlete and harder hitter, the pick is Kape via decision.

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