Manel Kape put away Zhalgas Zhumagulov with a blistering combination in the first round Saturday at UFC on ESPN 31.
The flyweight fight at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas was high-paced from the moment it began. Both men were swinging for the knockout, but it was Kape (17-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) who landed the first momentum-shifting shot when he cracked Zhumagulov (14-6 MMA, 1-3 UFC) with a big shot that staggered him.
Kape poured it on when he sensed his opponent was hurt, unleashing a endless stream of punches with Zhumagulov up against the fence until he went down and referee Keith Peterson halted the action at the 4:02 mark of Round 1.
Check out the replay of the finish below (via Twitter):
Speed and volume! 😳
🇵🇹 @ManelKape only needs one round tonight! #UFCVegas44 pic.twitter.com/JRoS3XN22S
— UFC (@ufc) December 5, 2021
That's the StarBoy 🤩 #UFCVegas44 pic.twitter.com/Ri4t280IbR
— UFC (@ufc) December 5, 2021
After the win, Kape said he’s coming for the UFC flyweight title in the next year.
“Always when I say I will do something expect what I do,” Kape said in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. “I’m here to be a champion and I will be that in 2022 if God permits me. I’m the best flyweight in the world.
Up-to-date UFC on ESPN 31 results include:
- Manel Kape def. Zhalgas Zhumagulov via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:02
- Bryan Barberena def. Darian Weeks via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Cheyanne Vlismas def. Mallory Martin via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- William Knight def. Alonzo Menifield via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Claudio Puelles def. Chris Gruetzemacher via submission (kneebar) – Round 3, 3:25
- Vince Morales def. Louis Smolka via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:02
