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Manel Kape vs Asu Almabayev Preview & Picks – Kape To Earn UFC Main Event Win

leigh-copson
25 Feb 2025
leigh-copson
Leigh Copson 25 Feb 2025
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  • Manel Kape vs Asu Almabayev picks for Saturday, March 1
  • UFC Fight Night is taking place at UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Preview, predictions, stats & form
Manel Kape (Getty Images )
    Manel Kape vs Asu Almabayev Preview & Picks
  • Manel Kape vs Asu Almabayev Preview & Picks
  • Manel Kape Form
  • Asu Almabayev Form

Manel Kape vs Asu Almabayev Preview & Picks

Manel Kape is tipped to strengthen his claims for a title shot with a decision win.

Kape is an explosive striker who gets in-and-out while landing at a good clip, and he can use his reach, speed and movement to keep Asu Almabayev off him for five rounds.

  • Manel Kape is 5-1 in his last 6 fights
  • 3 of Manel Kape’s last 4 fights have gone the distance
  • Asu Almabayev has gone the distance in 5 of his last 7 fights

Manel Kape Form

Manel Kape is the #6 flyweight contender with a professional record of 20-7 (12 KOs, 5 Subs).

Kape debuted in the UFC in February 2021, having enjoyed a successful run with the Japan-based Rizin promotion that saw him win bantamweight gold.

He got off to a rough start in the UFC though, losing back-to-back fights in the space of five weeks.

‘Starboy’ lost by unanimous decision to Alexandre Pantoja and by split decision to Matheus Nicolau, before finally getting off the mark with a first-round knockout of Ode’ Osbourne that summer.

Kane then backed that up by stopping Zhalhas Zhumagulov in the first round to take some momentum into 2022.

He fought just once that year but made it a successful outing, beating David Dvorak by decision, and in his only outing of 2023 he beat Felipe dos Santos on points to make it four-in-a-row.

The 31-year-old Angolan’s run ended in 2024 when he dropped a decision to Muhammad Mokaev, but he did rebound before the end of the year, knocking out Bruno Gustavo da Silva in the third round.

Asu Almabayev Form

Asu Almabayev is the #8 ranked flyweight contender with a professional record of 21-2 (3 KOs, 9 Subs).

Almabayev signed with the UFC in 2023, having spent the best part of a decade competing predominantly in his native Kazakhstan and Russia.

He enjoyed a successful debut as he tapped out Ode’ Osbourne in the second round in August of that year.

‘Zulfikar’ then backed that up as he fought three times in 2024 to quickly break into the top-10 in the flyweight division.

Almabayev started the year with a unanimous decision win over CJ Vergara, and followed that up with a points success against Jose Johnson.

The 31-year-old Kazakhstani then capped off a perfect 2024 with a decision victory over Matheus Nicolau. 

Verdict

Asu Almabayev is on a roll, but we expect his perfect UFC run to come to an end here.

Manel Kape can make this a stand-up affair and out-strike Almabayev over five rounds for a decision win.

Best Bet1: Manel Kape Winner @-227.27 at Stake.us - 6 Units
Manel Kape
Winner
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