A key flyweight clash is set to take place at UFC 304 in Manchester, as two top 125lb contenders in Manel Kape and Muhammad Mokaev will face off.
The PPV event takes place on July 27, 2024 at the Co-Op Live in Manchester, England. The match-up comes in the wake of champ Alexandre Pantoja successfully defending his title against Steve Erceg in Brazil this past weekend. Mokaev announced the booking on social media on Wednesday.
Manel Kape (19-6), a former RIZIN bantamweight champ, has won his last four fights in the UFC, most recently taking Felipe Dos Santos the distance. However, a rematch with Matheus Nicolau earlier this year fell through when Kape missed weight for the fight, then pulled out of a rescheduled date in April, later to be replaced by Alex Perez.
Kape’s weight miss is a concern due to “Starboy” having also missed the mark for a 2021 win against Ode’ Osbourne.
Muhammad Mokaev (12-0, 1NC) will be at home in England once again this July, looking to extend his undefeated record. Having never lost as a pro or an amateur, the 23-year old will look to build off a win over Alex Perez. Mokaev has in fact defeated former UFC title challengers on two straight occasions, with Tim Elliott submitting to the top prospect one fight prior.
Mokaev is currently ranked #6, and Kape #7 in the UFC flyweight division.
Reported for UFC 304 to date are the following match-ups:
- Nathaniel Wood vs. Daniel Pineda
- Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze
- Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape
