Manel Kape issues statement after canceled UFC fight, claims opponent refused to fight him despite 20% compensation offer
Manel Kape has not gotten off to a good start in 2024 and fans have already begun to turn on the former RIZIN champion.
After weighing in over the flyweight non-title limit ahead of UFC Vegas 84, Kape's scheduled bout with Matheus Nicolau was canceled. Fans immediately criticized the former champion on social media, causing 'Star Boy' to release a statement on X shortly after his weigh-in blunder.
He tweeted a screenshot roughly two and a half hours after his weigh-in with his written explanation. In his post, the flyweight claimed to have contracted a virus upon landing in Las Vegas for fight week that forced him out of training, causing the weight miss. The Angola-born fighter also claimed that Nicolau declined the fight despite the offering of his partial fight purse. He wrote:
"Two weeks ago I was extremely sick due to a virus that happened here in Las Vegas. I had to stay out of training for 5 days and filling myself with antibiotics... My coaches and manager thought it was better for me to cancel the fight due to the state I was in. But I decided to move on and not cancel. My opponent didn't accept the fight or accept my purse."
Kape also claimed that he would give his 'entire purse' to Nicolau to fight. Ending his statement, the Portuguese conveyed his frustration by reminding fans of his rough 2023 stretch, including accepting a fight with an opponent supposedly 11 pounds overweight.
How much did Manel Kape miss weight by?
After a disappointing 2023 outing for Manel Kape, the flyweight contender adds another canceled fight to his long list during his UFC career.
Due to his supposed illness, Kape weighed in at the UFC Vegas 84 weigh-ins at 129.5 pounds, 3.5 pounds over the limit. The fight was initially rumored to continue but was later reported as canceled.
Since signing with the promotion in 2020, the 30-year-old had 14 scheduled fights in the octagon but has only competed six times.
It is currently unknown if the UFC intends to re-book the matchup for a later date.