Muhammad Mokaev seemingly settled his unhealthy blood with Manel Kape after an uninspired three-round battle ended with a unanimous resolution win for the undefeated flyweight prospect at UFC 304.
After an altercation between the 2 flyweights on the UFC Efficiency Institute a number of months in the past and a lodge brawl simply days earlier than assembly within the octagon, safety flooded the octagon to maintain Mokaev and Kape separated till their battle truly started. Nonetheless, it appears all of the vitality constructed into disliking one another expired as quickly because the motion began, as Mokaev and Kape largely refused to have interaction through the 15-minute bout.
Mokaev was the extra lively fighter and did handle a late takedown, though Kape related with the extra impactful strikes. Ultimately, the judges favored Mokaev, with the scores coming again 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27 in his favor for the choice win.
“[I’m] 23 years previous, 7-0 in UFC. Give [an ovation] to Manel Kape,” Mokaev stated after his newest win. “I’m nonetheless younger. I’m preventing these veterans. I need a title shot.”
Regardless of all the strain earlier than the battle began, Mokaev and Kape have been extremely hesitant to truly change all through the opening spherical. Mokaev appeared snug sticking at a distance and simply chopping away with kicks, whereas Kape tried to gauge distance to lastly unleash his personal strikes.
After stuffing a takedown late within the spherical, Kape snapped off some fast punches that caught Mokaev wanting as he scrambled to flee the possibly unhealthy place.
A fast change within the second spherical noticed Kape block a kick, but it surely appeared he suffered a damaged toe as he reached down making an attempt to make an adjustment with Mokaev on the assault. Kape constantly favored the toe on his proper foot all through the rest of the battle.
The damage allowed Mokaev to advance for a takedown however he grabbed a handful of shorts to regulate Kape, which pressured referee Mike Beltran to pause the motion. Beltran vehemently warned Mokaev in regards to the foul and took away the place because the fighters reset within the heart of the octagon, however he opted to not take a degree away.
Again on the ft, Kape was nonetheless hesitant to actually let his palms go however stopped Mokaev’s takedown makes an attempt every time the undefeated prospect tried to shoot inside. When Mokaev lastly acquired Kape down on the canvas, the flyweights actually started exchanging blows.
Mokaev rained down pictures from the highest, whereas Kape fired off a barrage of nasty elbows from the underside earlier than a scramble noticed them get again as much as the ft once more. Whereas he didn’t join with most of his combos, Mokaev stayed busy sufficient along with his kicks and continued threatening along with his wrestling whereas Kape clearly favored that toe, which affected his motion all through the battle.
There’s little doubt it wasn’t the battle that Mokaev needed, he nonetheless acquired the job carried out with the unanimous resolution. Following the win, Mokaev talked about that he needs the UFC to signal him to a brand new contract, as this bout was the ultimate battle of his present deal.
Both means, Mokaev stays a risk within the flyweight division whereas dispatching one other high contender in Kape.
