![Muhammad Mokaev (left) to take on Manel Kape (right) at UFC 304 [Image courtesy @mokaev_mohammad and @manelkape on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/05/ebb9f-17166063441555-1920.jpg)
![Muhammad Mokaev (left) to take on Manel Kape (right) at UFC 304 [Image courtesy @mokaev_mohammad and @manelkape on Instagram]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manel Kape will square off against the undefeated Muhammad Mokaev on July 27 at UFC 304 in Manchester, England.
Mokaev has showcased a credible grappling threat in the division since debuting for the world's premier MMA promotion in 2022. He boasts a takedown average of 5.75 and has won numerous fights via submission.
Nevertheless, Kape is not worried about the Russian-born Englishman's wrestling prowess. 'Starboy' has faced off against his share of proficient grapplers in his UFC career, including the current flyweight kingpin Alexandre Pantoja.
During a recent interview with Grind City Media, the 30-year-old discredited the grappling threat his opponent poses:
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"I'm not focused on wrestling. I'm not focused on any of his strengths of wrestling. How many fighters have you seen taking me down? Even Pantoja the champion, [when] he fought me, he didn't take me down. You think Mokaev is going to take me down? I'm going to do what I did to David Dovark. I'm going to take his arm off so there is no threat against me."
Kape added:
"I'm a very complete fighter. I know I'm well [known] for my knockouts, so I will have to focus on my boxing, on my kickboxing, my knees, my elbows, my everything is him, not me about wrestling. I'm like Khabib in the flyweight division, I don't care."
Catch Manel Kape's comments below (7:58):
Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape: Fight odds
Both Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape are flying high in their UFC careers. While the undefeated Mokaev already holds six wins in the UFC, Kape is currently on a four-fight win streak. Let's see who among the pair is favored by the oddsmakers heading into UFC 304.
According to a report by Fight Odds, both fighters have a -110 chance of winning the bout. This means a successful $100 bet on either fighter will result in a payout of $190.19.
Kape's last outing was a unanimous decision win over Felipe dos Santos at UFC 293 in September. Meanwhile, Mokaev clinched a unanimous decision win against the No.5-ranked Alex Perez in his most recent octagon outing at UFC Fight Night 238 in March.
With no clear contenders for the next crack at flyweight gold, a dominant win could seal one of these men a title shot.
