The Russian website Metaratings.ru has released a prediction for the fight between Kazakhstani fighter Asu Almatbaev (21-2) and Portuguese fighter Manel Kape (20-7), as reported by Vesti.kz .
The opponents will face off at the tournament on March 2 during UFC Vegas 103 in Las Vegas, USA. Their bout will headline the event. It will mark the first time a Kazakh fighter competes in the main event of Dana White's league.
This matchup features the sixth and eighth-ranked fighters in the flyweight category, respectively. Kape has been in the UFC longer, but he has yet to experience a five-round fight. However, ten years ago, he finished Antoine Galliñaro in the fourth round at the KOC - Knock Out Championship.
Almatbaev has the experience of competing in a 25-minute fight within the M-1 league. His four victories in the UFC give hope to his fans and promise a bright future in the world's top league.
According to bookmakers, Kape is the clear favorite. However, the fight is likely to be more competitive than they anticipate. The clash of styles suggests that we can expect much more than just the dominance of one athlete. Manel Kape will need to deliver a flawless performance while consistently avoiding mid-range and close-range exchanges, where Almatbaev will have the chance to clinch and take the fight to the ground. This is a challenging task for the striker from Angola.
It won’t be easy for the Kazakh fighter either, as he will be facing such a nimble opponent with good takedown defense for the first time. Nevertheless, Kape has been taken down by Mateus Nicolau, and Muhammad Mokaev was able to take him down as well, which means Almatbaev, known for his strong grappling, could also succeed. Choosing a favorite in this matchup seems pointless, but betting on the promising underdog is intriguing.
Prediction for the fight between Manel Kape and Asu Almatbaev: Almatbaev wins," the source stated.
It is worth noting that Kape was originally scheduled to fight American Brandon Royval (17-7), but he withdrew due to a concussion.