UFC star denies PI altercation, Jake Paul reacts to Mike Perry getting "fired", and more: MMA Midnight Roundup!
Manel Kape breaks silence on the allegations of having an altercation at the UFC Performance Institute. Elsewhere, Jake Paul had a fiery response to Conor McGregor 'firing' Mike Perry from BKFC.
Catch up with the most exciting combat sports news with Sportskeeda MMA's Midnight Roundup.
Manel Kape denies UFC PI brawl
Jean Silva claimed in early July that he had witnessed Manel Kape attack his upcoming UFC opponent Muhammad Mokaev outside the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas. Silva claimed that "psychopath" Kape had headbutted and elbowed Mokaev, injuring him with a week remaining before their fight.
However, Kape claims that it never happened. He told MMA Fighting that it was a made-up "story" but one that would help sell their next UFC fight better:
"Nothing happened... I have a Brazilian friend, he made this story [up] just to spice up the fight... Mokaev is in Dagestan or England, and I’m in Vegas. We did not have any fight. People like to buy this fan story. This is the story. By the way, Jean is a good promoter. He’s a good seller at the end of the day. This makes the fight more exciting."
The two will clash on the UFC 304 card set to take place in Manchester, United Kingdom on July 27, 2024.
Jake Paul reacts to Conor McGregor firing Mike Perry
Jake Paul gave a fiery response to Conor McGregor going off at Mike Perry after the latter's loss on Saturday night. The Irishman "fired" Perry from BKFC in a series of profanity-laced tweets, some of which were deleted later.
When asked to comment on the matter in the press conference of their boxing match, Paul weighed in:
"Hey, that's f*cked up that he fired the BKFC champion. I told you that was gonna happen, I told you exactly what was gonna happen. He was big-upping his boy, Mike Perry. I said, 'OK Conor, after I f*ck up Mike Perry, then you're next.' Conor's on Twitter all the time. He's on his yacht all the time. But guess where he's not? In the ring, fighting me. So he can talk all the f*ck he wants but the 'Notorious MMA' is scared of Jake Joseph Paul from the Disney channel.''
Sean Strickland is relieved that Disney has "bent the knee"
Sean Strickland is glad that Disney has "finally bent the knee". This is not the first time the fighter has gone after the media juggernaut.
Reacting to a recent rumor of Disney making a new live-action Hercules movie, the UFC star wrote on X:
"Disney is making a live-action Hercules and I think we have won. No one is gender-swapped, no one is race-swapped. No hidden gay social justice characters. I think Disney has finally bent the knee. Still has time for it to get infected by the left. Time will tell."
The rumor claims that Zane Phillips, an American, openly gay actor, will play the lead role in the movie. The poster also bears the names of Jodie Comer, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, and Simon Pegg, among others.
"Heartbroken" MMA fighter has an in-cage meltdown
American MMA fighter Iyean Varela had a meltdown inside the cage after securing a win over Emerson Garcia at Fury FC 94 on Sunday. Submitting Garcia with a guillotine, Varela went on a rant during the octagon interview about getting his heart broken in romantic rejection. He also spoke about his deceased grandmother.
Watch his comments below:
Ryan Garcia reacts to Joe Biden stepping down
Joe Biden stepped down from the presidential race and ended his reelection bid on Sunday, July 21. He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him, although it remains unclear whether she will become the next nominee.
Reacting to the news, boxer Ryan Garcia tweeted:
"Lmaooooo. Kamala Harrison. That's actually comical."
A former UFC fighter, Jake Shields, also weighed in on the matter.