Manel Kape 'siu' celebration: Why does the Angolan UFC flyweight look up to Cristiano Ronaldo?

Manuel Pedro Gomes, who goes by the name Manel Kape, is an incredibly talented mixed martial artist hailing from Angola. He has been a professional competitor since 2012 and has gained widespread recognition for his remarkable performances in various competitions such as Cage Fighters, Knock Out championship, and Rizin Fighting Federation.

Kape has achieved great feats throughout his career, including being crowned the former Rizin bantamweight champion and the former Knock Out championship bantamweight champion. His impressive skills have led him to compete as a flyweight in the prestigious Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he currently holds an impressive No.9-ranked position in the UFC flyweight rankings.

Manel Kape is renowned for his aggressive fighting approach, which has earned him a loyal following in the mixed martial arts community. However, in recent years, 'Starboy' has become associated with one of the biggest names in global sports, Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese-Angolan fighter has gained significant attention for his use of Ronaldo's iconic goal celebration, known as the 'siu.' The 29-year-old has adopted this move as his own, and it has become a trademark celebration of his victories in the UFC.

Check out Kape doing the 'siu' celebration:

Manel Kape's iconic 'siu' celebration is a direct homage to legendary soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, who inspires the flyweight fighter. In an interview with LowKick MMA, Kape openly praised the 'CR7' as an influence. Both as an athlete and a cultural icon, his celebration is a nod to the soccer superstar's incredible achievements on the field.

Watch 125-pounder's words of appreciation for Ronaldo:

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Manel Kape will face Alex Perez this Saturday at UFC San Antonio

The upcoming flyweight fight at UFC on ESPN 43 will showcase two highly-ranked fighters. Those competitors are Alex Perez, who currently holds the No.6-ranked spot in the UFC's flyweight rankings, and Manel Kape, who currently sits at No.9-ranked.

Perez, a 30-year-old fighter from California, is eager to break his streak of two consecutive losses. Meanwhile, Kape is on the hunt for his fourth consecutive victory in the UFC.

Manel Kape, with a record of 18 wins and 6 losses, has been experiencing a much better run of form. After losing his first two UFC fights, Kape has bounced back impressively, winning three fights in a row. He has displayed his vintage knockout ability, finishing off Ode Osbourne and Zhalgas Zhumagulov with incredible displays of skill and power.

In his most recent fight, Kape secured a unanimous decision victory over David Dvorak.

On the other hand, Alex Perez, with a professional record of 24 wins and 7 losses, has surprisingly gone without a victory in almost three years. The lack of activity has certainly not helped, with the fighter only stepping into the octagon twice during this period.

Unfortunately, both fights resulted in him being ruthlessly submitted - first by Deiveson Figueiredo in a title fight and then by Alexandre Pantoja.