Brandon Roybal and Manel Kape are the subject of a potential No. 1 contender’s bout as the main event of the upcoming UFC Fight Night card, scheduled for March 1 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas.
Sources familiar with the promotion’s plans confirmed in an interview with MMA Fighting that the fight is in the works, but no contract has been signed or signed. Ag. Fight first reported the bout.
Roybal has also faced reigning champion Alexandre Pantoja twice and posted about the fight on social media, expressing his hopes for more titles.
“At the end of the day, I have the toughest resume since signing with the UFC,” Roybal wrote. “You guys are going to learn to respect my name. Top 10 fighters only. Main event for the fourth year in a row.”
Since losing to Pantoja in 2023, Roybal has posted an impressive two-fight winning streak with a hard-fought decision win over former champion Brandon Moreno and then undefeated prospect Tatsuro Taira.
Meanwhile, Cape also mentioned the fight on social media without mentioning Royval by name.
“He needs to shut up. He has no intention of competing for the belt,” Kape wrote in response to Roybal’s initial insistence that he would aim for the title right away. “That’s with me, he’s going to do what we tell him to do. The main event on March 1st.”
He has to shut up, he’s not going to fight for the belt. That’s with me, he will do what we tell him to do.
March 1st Main Event https://t.co/rXOMB8awJG— Manel Kape موسى Manel Kape (@ManelKape) December 21, 2024
After a disappointing loss to Muhamad Mokaev in July, Kape capped off 2024 with a stellar performance at UFC Tampa, defeating Bruno Silva with a third-round stoppage. Overall, Kape is 5-1 in his last six games and has high expectations for the future. One more win would give him a chance to finally win UFC gold.
