Manel Kape is looking to make a huge impression on his UFC debut.
Last week, former RIZIN Bantamweight Champion Manel Kape signed a four-fight deal with the promotion. There was no word on when or who UFC’s newest bantamweight was set fight; however, it appears that the 26-year-old has made the selection himself.
Yesterday, former Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt revealed in his interview with MMA Junkie that he was planning on moving down to the flyweight division following his fight against Raphael Assuncao. Kape clearly wants to be the first man to fight the 28-year-old when he drops down to 125 as he called out Garbrandt and doesn’t seem to take the former Bantamweight Champion as much of a threat:
As of this writing, Garbrandt has yet to respond to Kape. The former RIZIN star is currently riding a three-fight winning streak, besting Seiichiro Ito, Takeya Mizugaki, and Kai Asakura. Kape clearly enters the UFC with some nice momentum; however, Garbrandt is in need of a win as the former Bantamweight Champion has lost to T.J. Dillashaw twice (both for the UFC Bantamweight title) and then Pedro Munhoz at UFC 235.