Top flyweight contenders Manel Kape, Muhammad Mokaev targeted for UFC 304 clash
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A high-stakes flyweight showdown between Manel Kape and Muhammad Mokaev is expected to take place at UFC 304 this summer.
Mokaev (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) announced on Wednesday on Instagram that he is set to take on Kape (19-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) in what will likely serve as a 125-pound title eliminator on the July 27 event at Co-op Live in Manchester, England.
A person with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie that Kape has verbally agreed to the bout. The person requested anonymity because no official UFC announcement has been made.
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Mokaev, No. 5 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie flyweight rankings, is on a six-fight winning streak inside the octagon and is unbeaten throughout his amateur and professional career. He was passed over for a title shot at UFC 301 against Alexandre Pantoja in favor of Steve Erceg, but the 23-year-old could solidify his opportunity at gold with another win.
No. 10-ranked Kape, meanwhile, will bring a four-fight winning streak into UFC 304. He’s struggled to stay active in recent years, though, with a slew of injuries, cancellations, and a weight miss stunting his progress.
The latest UFC 304 lineup now includes:
- Manel Kape vs. Muhammad Mokaev
- Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze
- Daniel Pineda vs. Nathaniel Wood
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Top flyweight contenders Manel Kape, Muhammad Mokaev targeted for UFC 304 clash