On the main card of UFC Tampa , Manel Kape showed why he deserves a shot at the flyweight title (up to 56,7 kg) against Alexandre Pantoja . The Portuguese fighter dominated Bruno 'Bulldog' in all three rounds and secured a technical knockout in the third. At 31 years old, Kape defended his ninth-place ranking in the division and reached the milestone of 20 career wins.
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Bruno, in turn, saw the end of his four-fight winning streak and became further away from his dream of fighting for the belt.
Manel Kape Show
The Brazilian started the fight with many feints, trying to confuse Kape, but halfway through the first round, the Portuguese fighter began to take advantage of his greater height and reach. Kape landed good left-handed straights that shook Bruno 'Bulldog'. In the final stretch, Bruno tried a front kick, but ended up hitting Manel's lower parts, which led to a warning from the referee.
In the second round, Kape came back with everything, intensifying the show. He pressed, combined punches and kicks, and used provocations to destabilize the Brazilian. In search of recovery, Bruno tried another kick, but, again, he hit Kape's lower parts, which made the referee take a point off his score.
With one point deducted, Bruno knew he needed a knockout in the last round. The Brazilian went on the attack and landed some good blows, but Kape held firm and, in the second minute of the round, punished the Brazilian with blows to the head and waistline, until he achieved the technical knockout.
Manel Kape asked for a title shot
Manel Kape defeated Bruno Bulldoguinho at UFC Tampa . Photo: Reproduction/Twitter/UFC News
In the post-fight interview, Kape used the spotlight to downplay the title challengers and focused on a matchup against champion Alexandre Pantoja in his next fight.
“First of all, thank you, Tampa, you guys are amazing. I'm not going to swear, but screw Kara-France, screw Moreno, and screw Adesanya, I'm next! Give me a fight with Pantoja! I'll be the first to destroy Pantoja. Hey, Dana, I deserve two bonuses!”, said Manel Kape.
Watch Manel Kape's knockout of Bruno 'Bulldog'
Sliiightly controversial low kick, nicked the body, led to a FLURRY of hard strikes for Manel Kape to secure the win pic.twitter.com/e55MZg6CBS
— The Global Lens-Sports (@TGLMSports) December 15, 2024
Oldest fighter of the night delivers brutal knockout and wins duel at UFC Tampa
In the co-main event of UFC Tampa , Cub Swanson surprised everyone with a brutal knockout of Billy Quarantillo . At 41 years old, the veteran landed a combination of a cross and a left straight that sent his opponent kissing the canvas in the third round, after a fight full of twists and turns.
With the victory, Swanson reached 30 career victories, and the fighter has been active in the UFC since 2011. Quarantillo, in turn, suffered his ninth career defeat, at the age of 36.
Watch Cub Swanson's brutal knockout at UFC Tampa
CUB SWANSON KNOCKS OUT BILLY Q! #MMA #UFC #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/eZBfX4UDZ2
— MMA Frenzy (@mma_frenzy) December 15, 2024
Check out all the results from UFC Tampa
MAIN CARD
Welterweight (up to 77,1 kg): Joaquin Buckley defeated Colby Covington by technical knockout (medical stoppage) at 4:42 of round 3.
Featherweight (up to 65,7 kg): Cub Swanson defeated Billy Quarantillo at 1:35 of Round 3.
Flyweight (up to 56,7 kg): Manel Kape defeated Bruno Bulldoguinho by technical knockout at 1:57 of round 3.
Light heavyweight (up to 93 kg): Dustin Jacoby defeated Vitor Petrino by knockout at 3:44 of round 3.
Bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg): Daniel Marcos defeated Adrian Yanez by split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
Light heavyweight (up to 93 kg): Navajo Stirling defeated George Tokkos by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
PRELIMINARY CARD
Lightweight (up to 70,3 kg): Michael Johnson defeated Ottman Azaitar by knockout at 2:3 of round 2.
Lightweight (up to 70,3 kg): Joel Alvarez defeated Drakkar Klose by knockout at 2:48 of round 1.
Featherweight (up to 65,7 kg): Sean Woodson defeated Fernando Padilla by technical knockout at 4:58 of round 1.
Featherweight (up to 65,7 kg): Felipe Lima defeated Miles Johns by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Flyweight (up to 56,7 kg): Miranda Maverick defeated Jamey-Lyn Horth by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg): Davey Grant defeated Ramon Taveras by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Strawweight (up to 52,1 kg): Piera Rodriguez defeated Josefine Knutsson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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