A pair of top 15 UFC flyweights will collide in April.
Per an announcement on the UFC’s Migu (official Chinese streaming partner) channel, No. 13 ranked flyweight Sumudaerji will fight No. 14 ranked Manel Kape on April 23 yet-to-be-announced UFC event. Jessica Andrade and Amanda Lemos are expected to headline the card. Both fighters confirmed the booking on their social media.
Booked, it’s time back at work 👊🏼 🏔🦅 #thetibetaneagle #sumudaerji @ufc @songnimaa pic.twitter.com/ATwIuTROCo
— Sumudaerji (@mudaerji_su) January 28, 2022
Sumudaerji (14-4) has been on fire since losing his UFC debut and dropping back down to flyweight. In 2020, he knocked out Malcolm Gordon in 44 seconds, and then in his only fight of 2021, he defeated Zarrukh Adashev via unanimous decision. Unfortunately, “The Tibetan Eagle” took the rest of 2021 off due to injuries.
Kape (17-6) has finally found his footing after a bumpy start to his UFC career. When he came into the promotion, the hype behind him was downright unbelievable; unfortunately, he failed to live up to expectations as he lost his first two bouts. “Starboy” would end his 2021 campaign extremely strong on the opposite trajectory, however, by finishing both of his next two opponents. He knocked out Ode’ Osbourne with a flying knee at UFC 265 and then finished Zhalgas Zhumagulov in December.
The UFC’s April 23, 2022 event does not have an official location, venue, or broadcast plan announced. The April fight card currently includes the following reported bouts:
- Jessica Andrade vs. Amanda Lemos
- Maycee Barber vs. Montana De La Rosa
- Clay Guida vs. Claudio Puelles
- Louis Cosce vs. Preston Parsons
- Mike Jackson vs. Dean Barry
- Qileng Aori vs. Cameron Else
- Tyson Pedro vs. Ike Villanueva
- Manel Kape vs. Sumudaerji
- Tanner Boser vs. Rodrigo Nascimento
- Montana De La Rosa vs. Maycee Barber
