Manel Kape blew weight for the second time in his UFC career on Friday, and as a result, the former RIZIN champ’s rematch with Matheus Nicolau is off.
“Starboy” Kape, a highly touted athlete who has competed as a flyweight since his arrival in the company, was 3.5lbs over the non-title limit at the UFC Vegas 84 official weigh-in in Las Vegas. Later in the day, promotion officials confirmed the bout was off. “Due to Manel Kape weighing in over the flyweight limit, his bout with Matheus Nicolau has been cancelled from this weekend’s card,” read a brief statement on the promotion’s official website.
Kape and Nicolau had first met in 2021, with Kape losing by split decision. Saturday’s UFC Vegas 84, the first UFC event of the year, was a chance for Kape to avenge that loss, and earn his fifth straight win.
Kape has now released a statement addressing the situation, placing blame for the weight miss on a virus, and revealing that Nicolau declined a catchweight.
Manel Kape releases statement on weight miss and fight cancellation with Matheus Nicolau #UFCVegas84 pic.twitter.com/uaQAgvPcxh
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) January 12, 2024
“Guys, I couldn’t make the weight this time, two weeks ago I was extremely sick due to a virus that happened here in Las Vegas, and I had to stay out of training for five days and filling myself with antibiotics,” wrote Kape, who added that the virus “not only affected me but many of my training partners.”
“My coaches and my manager thought it was better for me to cancel the fight due to the state I was in. But I decided to move on and not cancel. My opponent didn’t accept to fight or accept my purse.”
Kape had expressed hope that a win at UFC Vegas 84 might help him jump into the next title fight at flyweight, though that is unlikely to happen now. There’s been no word on if the UFC will attempt to book Kape vs. Nicolau again, or move in a different direction. UFC Vegas 84 takes place Saturday, January 13, 2024 with Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker 2 headlining.
