Tampa – UFC flyweight Manel Kape isn’t just looking for a title shot after his fight against Bruno Silva at UFC Tampa on Saturday night.
He also believes he’s still on a win streak.
“A win against Bruno is going to get me to the title, and I’m still in winning streak by the way,” Kape told reporters on Wednesday.
“I didn’t lost my last fight.”
Kape (19-7) didn’t mince words. He doubled down. When asked if he still feels like he won his last fight, against Muhammad Mokaev, Kape made sure he was clear.
“I don’t still feel. I didn’t (lose) my last fight,” he reiterated.
As he looks ahead to a potential title shot against Alexandre Pantoja in a rather shallow flyweight division Kape gave his thoughts on his last title defense. Kai Asakura made his UFC debut at UFC 310 challenging Pantoja for his flyweight title.
Pantoja finished Asakura via submission in the second round.
“Was actually a great fight. I see it’s the first time for Kai Asakura to drop to 125. He was not rehydrated like he was on bantamweight. I feel it was the same thing that (TJ) Dillashaw against (Henry) Cejudo when he dropped to 125,” Kape said.
“I think he should first (get) some experience about the weight then do the proper weight for the fight. He was looking good, he was ripped, but he was not strong. He lost a lot of power.”
The next fight for Pantoja is rumored to be a third fight with Brandon Royval. Pantoja defended his title against Royval at UFC 296, taking the win by decision, and Kape believes he deserves his rematch with the champion.
“When Pantoja fought Brandon Royval he make sure that he win. That win was like unanimous decision and was pretty sure that the levels between him and (Brandon) Moreno and other guys he fought. It was not the same. If you look to my fight against Pantoja, was my first fight in UFC, he didn’t do anything,” he said.
“Of course I didn’t do much, but I win rounds. I’m a fighter, five rounds. I grow up every round. You know my potential, you know my skills, and it’s going to be a different fight.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Manel Kape above. He takes on Bruno Silva at UFC Tampa on Saturday night.
