Kape promotes UFC event. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC
Manel Kape has definitively established himself in the elite of the flyweight division (up to 57 kg). Last Saturday (13), in the main event of UFC Vegas 112, the Angolan knocked out Brandon Royval in the first round and moved closer to competing for the category's belt. Aware of the importance of the victory and the intense competition at the top of the division, 'Starboy' declared war on a rival.
In the post-event press conference, Kape, eager to fight champion Joshua Van for the title next, attacked Tatsuro Taira , the Japanese UFC star. Having made a name for himself fighting in Rizin, the Angolan boasted of his fame in the country, stating that, compared to him, the local athlete is unknown. Not satisfied, the veteran asserted that the Asian fighter doesn't know how to promote himself, much less did he deserve the title fight.
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It's worth highlighting that in the race to compete for the belt, Manel has three consecutive victories, compared to Taira's two. Furthermore, the Angolan impressed by knocking out Royval, who quickly defeated the Japanese fighter. Therefore, the athlete found it strange that his rival was being praised and had such appeal.
“If anyone believes that, they don’t understand math at all. Because two plus two isn’t six, it’s four. Royval just beat Taira. He broke him mentally and physically. I beat Royval in one round. Do the math. Nobody knows Taira in Japan. You say Taira and they think it’s a biscuit. If you say my name, everyone knows. I speak Japanese well. The UFC is a smart company that makes the best investments. If they want to continue like this, they have to invest in me,” said the athlete, before adding.
“I believe that only I can be the big attraction in Japan. There’s no need for Japanese fighters, because the people themselves don’t like them. They like Starboy. I don’t know why people talk so much about Taira. There’s no way my name can be near his. We are different people and different fighters. I bring emotion, knockouts, I’m not boring. This guy only knows how to say: ‘I’m happy.’ I don’t know what they want. I’m the best and smartest investment,” he concluded.
Dana White's preference
Despite being vocal against Tatsuro Taira being the number one contender for the UFC flyweight title, Manel Kape is at a disadvantage in the fight. Recently, Dana White, president of the company, revealed his interest in making the fight between champion Joshua Van and the Asian fighter official in Japan.
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