Outlook: Manel Kape appears to have put everything together, and if he can put something spectacular on display to end UFC’s schedule in 2025. He looked better than ever in back-to-back stoppage wins over Bruno Silva and Asu Almabayev, and if he can do something similar against Royval, he has a real opportunity to fight for gold in 2026.
Two fighters on the outside looking in are Asu Almabayev and Kyoji Horiguchi. Almabayev is creating serious momentum for himself after submitting Alex Perez in Qatar. Since joining the promotion in August 2023, he is 6-1 with his lone loss coming to Kape. Meanwhile, Horiguchi threw his name back into the mix with a dominant return victory over Tagir Ulanbekov in Doha. Either man could string together two or three wins and break into the title picture next year.
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