Manel Kape aims for a rematch with Pantoja if he wins at UFC Tampa- Ag. Fight – MMA, UFC, Boxing and More

This Saturday (14), on the main card of UFC Tampa, Manel Kape faces off against Bruno Silva, the 'Bulldog'. And despite being about to face an opponent with four consecutive victories, 'Starboy' is already thinking beyond the confrontation. And for a noble reason. Aware of the current quadro of flyweight (57 kg) and with an eye on a title fight, the Angolan aims to get a rematch against Alexandre Pantoja out of the question in the 2025 season.

In an exclusive interview with the news team at Ag FightKape reinforced that, despite the stumble against Muhammad Mokaev in the last round, his goal in the company remains the same: to seek the 'title shot'. And in his opinion, an impactful triumph on the last UFC card in 2024 could be enough to guarantee the desired chance to challenge the Brazilian champion.

“My planning remains the same. I'm sure that after this fight, with a good victory, with a very impressive victory, I can be next in the title fight. I don't think anything has changed, even in relation to the last fight. I talked to the people at UFC and everything continues in the same direction”, projected Manel.

Praise for the champion

With three belt defenses and records achieved, Pantoja establishes, day after day, his era in Ultimate and consolidates himself as one of the company's most dominant champions. Aware of these numbers, Kape does not dispute the Brazilian's merit and praises his most recent performances. However, trusting in his own potential, Starboy guarantees that he is the only opponent capable of standing up to the veteran at this moment. Willing to give revenge in a possible rematch, the Angolan aims to meet his tormentor again in 2025.

“There are no words (to define it). He did it and won. There are no arguments when a person has these victories, these numbers that he already has. But I think the only fighter who is at the (same) level to fight him is me. As you saw, my last fight (with him) was by decision, and I won the second or third round against him. As a champion he is phenomenal, as a fighter and as a person too. An excellent person, an excellent father. But I hope that next year we will meet and history can be changed”, highlighted Kape.

In addition to Bruno Bulldog, who faces Manel Kape, two other Brazilians will take action at UFC Tampa this Saturday. On the preliminary card, Felipe Lima, who lives in Sweden, squares off against American Miles Johns. In the main part of the show, Vitor Petrino tries to recover from the first defeat he suffered in his career in a duel against Dustin Jacoby.