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UFC And Dana White Make Killer No. 1 Contender Fight
UFC CEO Dana White(Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesAfter UFC Tampa on December 14, UFC President Dana White told Manel Kape he wasnt getting a title shot, but he would get what he wanted. It seems we now know what White was referring to during the final post-event presser of 2024.According to multiple reports, Kape is headed for a No. 1 contenders match with current top-ranked flyweight Brandon Royval. Reports say the fight is scheduled for March 1 at the UFC Apex.It will likely be the main event unless the reports are proven false.This fight looks spectacular on paper.Kape is coming off a masterful performance in his last fight. At UFC Tampa, Kape shook off three low blows from Bruno Silva before securing a third-round TKO. Immediately after getting the finish, Kape went over to White, who was sitting Octagon side, and pleaded for a title shot.White told him they would have a discussion. It appears that discussion has happened, and the result is a No. 1 contenders fight with Royval.Royval solidified his spot as the No. 1 contender with a win over Tatsuro Taira in a thrilling main event in October. With a win over Royval, Taira would have likely locked down a shot at champion Alexandre Pantoja.MORE FOR YOUHowever, Royval turned him away, which made room for Japanese newcomer Kai Asakura to challenge Pantoja for the title. Pantoja made it look easy against Asakura.The champion successfully defended his title in the main event of UFC 310 in Las Vegas on December 7. After the fight, Pantoja tried to lure former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson out of retirement with a callout.That overture was shot down as Johnson quickly responded on social media, saying he was happily retired from MMA. Pantoja has run roughshod through the current crop of flyweight contenders.Hes beaten Royval twice and No. 2 contender Brandon Moreno three times. No. 3 Amir Albazi was just dismantled by Moreno in November. Pantoja has also beaten No. 4 Kai Kara France, though it happened on The Ultimate Fighter back in 2016.Because of Pantojas dominance, the UFC has had to dig deeper into the rankings to find title challengers. Pantoja has even defeated Kape. The two met in 2021 in Kapes UFC debut.However, Kapes only loss since 2021 came against Mohammed Mokaev, the undefeated flyweight the UFC sent packing in July because of his poor relationship with his fellow fighters and the UFCs brass.Were it not for his exit, Mokaev would have probably already received a title shot. He would have definitely deserved a shot before Asakura. As it is, the next title challenger will be either Kara France, No. 8 Asu Almabayev, or the winner of Kape-Royval.Stay tuned.Here is a look at the fights rumored to be a part of the March 1 UFC Fight Night event.Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape - FlyweightMontana De La Rosa vs. Luana Carolina - FlyweightLucas Almeida vs. Danny Silva - FeatherweightWilliam Gomis vs. Hyder Amil - FeatherweightDanny Barlow vs. Sam Patterson - WelterweightCody Brundage vs. Julian Marquez - MiddleweightWhen more information on this event and others goes official, Ill have it covered.
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