The UFC is publicly canvassing opinion on who should be next for flyweight contender Manel Kape. The promotion is soliciting fan input as matchmakers weigh the options for his next assignment.
The UFC has opened the floor to fan opinion on who should face flyweight contender Manel Kape next, with the promotion actively soliciting input as matchmakers assess his next opponent.
Kape, known as "StarBoy," carries a 23-7 record into the selection process and currently sits sixth in the UFC flyweight rankings. The 32-year-old Angolan trains out of Xtreme Couture and competes as a southpaw, standing five-foot-five with a 68-inch reach. His offensive output is among the more eye-catching in the division, as he lands 4.68 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 55 percent — numbers that make him a genuine threat on the feet for any opponent in the 125-pound weight class.
Why it matters
- Kape sits sixth in the flyweight rankings, meaning a well-placed matchup could push him squarely into title contention
- His volume striking — nearly five significant strikes per minute — sets up difficult style puzzles for both grapplers and fellow strikers
- Fan and public input signals the UFC sees genuine interest around Kape's next assignment, which could accelerate matchmaking negotiations
- The outcome of the booking decision will shape the top-five picture in one of the UFC's more active and competitive divisions
The decision to canvass public opinion reflects a broader UFC tendency to generate engagement around compelling contenders before a fight is formally announced. With Kape positioned just outside the top five, his next booking carries clear divisional weight, and whoever matchmakers ultimately select will be stepping in against one of the flyweight division's more aggressive finishers.
