Alexandre Pantoja vs Manel Kape will feature on the main card for UFC Fight Night 184. Kape has drawn a tough opponent in his first-ever UFC fight, but the Angolan is up to the challenge. NJ sportsbook reviews and MMA predictions slightly favor Alexandre “The Cannibal” Pantoja, who should bounce back against the UFC rookie.
Alexandre Pantoja vs Manel Kape is the lone flyweight showdown on the main card for UFC Fight Night 184 in Las Vegas. Manel Kape will be making his UFC debut against Alexandre Pantoja, who has an MMA record of 22-5. The Angolan warrior, dubbed “Starboy,” is an impressive young fighter who’s looking to make a splash in his first UFC fight. Expectations for the rookie are high since he’s won his last three fights by KO/TKO, all in the second round. He’s quickly becoming an MMA fan favorite for his dedication to ending the fight inside the distance. Alexandre Pantoja is currently the No. 5 ranked fighter in the flyweight division but is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Askar Askarov back on July 18, 2020. He closed as a -210 favorite for that event, and the best betting sites in NJ have him as the favorite once again. 888sport has Pantoja listed at -139 money line odds, and Kape is a +110 underdog. This line is suspiciously low, but my money will go on Pantoja, who isn’t the friendliest matchup for Kape’s debut fight. Kape is a phenomenal athlete and a skilled, aggressive fighter. He’ll get the fans excited, and UFC predictions say that he’ll come out of the gates hot, but Pantoja is a tremendous all-around fighter with experience in the UFC octagon to support him. NJ online sportsbook reviews have breakdowns of the best sportsbooks, but FanDuel lists Pantoja winning by decision or KO/TKO at +175. Kape is also an enticing bet, but I think “The Cannibal” ends up taking this one.
Manel Kape is going to be a star in the UFC. He’s a phenomenal athlete with great footwork, grappling skills, and he’s exciting to watch, but Pantoja is a formidable opponent whose experience should propel him to victory. My prediction: Pantoja wins by KO/TKO by decision.
