UFC 252: What Is The Status Of Manel Kape?

The debut of a former RIZIN champion will have to be postponed.

According to MMA Fighting, Manel Kape will not be competing at UFC 252 on August 15. Kape suffered an ankle injury, which resulted in any future bouts not coming to fruition. He originally was supposed to fight in a bantamweight bout against Rogerio Bonterin, but the latter had to withdraw from the card.

Kape (15-4) started his professional career in 2012. He bounced around the MMA world, fighting for Cage Fighting, Knock Out Championship, and Invictus. The 26-year-old has nine wins via knockout. Joining RIZIN in 2017, he beat Erson Yamamoto in his debut. “Prodigio” is 4-1 in his last five fights, his last three bouts propelling him to become RIZIN Bantamweight Champion. Back on New Year’s Eve at RIZIN 20, Kape beat Kai Asakura via TKO to become champion.

There have been rumors of Kape fighting in the flyweight division. He has called out former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt before. Mike Heck was told that flyweight’s Jussier Formiga and Alexandre Pantoja were potential opponents to face off against Kape. He is hoping to be back by October, competing in the flyweight division.

UFC 252 will take place inside the UFC’s APEX Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event will be UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Micocic facing off against Daniel Cormier in a trilogy bout.