UFC Combat Night time 253 went down from the UFC Apex in Enterprise, Nevada earlier tonight (Saturday, March 1, 2025) and featured a flyweight principal occasion. Manel Kape took on Asu Almabayev in a bout that was scheduled to go 5 rounds.
Kape, the No. 6-ranked flyweight within the division, entered the competition off an enormous third-round TKO win over Bruno Gustavo da Silva again in December. It was a bounce-back victory after struggling a call loss to Muhammad Mokaev the earlier July. He confronted Almabayev, the No. 8-ranked 125-pounder, who appeared to maintain his undefeated UFC document intact towards Kape.
Almabayev landed kick to the physique to start out issues off, however Kape made him pay by catching the legs and connecting on a number of repeated jabs. Kape managed to land a pleasant left hand that backed Almabayev towards the cage. Kape tried to push ahead however Almabayev fended him off with strikes. Kape once more pressed ahead, connecting on just a few photographs that compelled Almabayev to circle out.
Almabayev managed a left hook as Kape missed on an inside strike. Extra ahead stress from Kape as he lands some hooks that put Almabayev towards the cage but once more earlier than he circles out. Almabayev tried a takedown that was stuffed. Almabayev landed a spinning elbow however paid for it as Kape retaliated with some repeated straights to the face to finish the spherical.
The second spherical kicked off with one other stuffed takedown try from Almabayev. A wild overhand proper was simply missed as Kape moved out the best way. Kape managed to side-step just a few spinning again kick makes an attempt from Almabayev. Kape continued to indicate off nice motion, dodging Almabayev’s assaults. Almabayev simply missed on a flying knee and Kape pressed ahead on him towards the cage. Kape ate a counter-strike from Almabayev however he continued to press ahead, preserving Almabayev on the retreat. Kape managed an attractive counter proper overhand that was answered gy a entrance kick kind Almabayev.
Kape jumped inside with a flying knee to the physique, and landed a follow-up straight. Extra stunning motion from Kape adopted, as he continued to doge Almabayev’s assaults. A lead proper hook for Kape landed however Almabayev subsequently claimed there was a watch poke that quickly stopped the motion. After just a few seconds, the motion resumed and Kape pressed ahead onerous to finish the spherical.
The third spherical began off with just a few blocked kicks from Almabayev. Kape pressed ahead but once more and had Almabayev towards the cage. Almabayev missed wildly on a hook and Kape adopted up with stress. He managed to land some photographs towards the cage that surprised Almabayev, dropping him, and Almabayev was compelled in on a takedown try that resulted in a sprawled out place for the 2 males the place they stalemated for a second.
As soon as again as much as their ft, Kape once more pressured ahead rapidly, touchdown a number of strikes to Almabayev’s face, forcing Almabayev to run. Kape chased him down, touchdown a strike to the face once more earlier than the referee stepped in after having seen sufficient.
Official Outcome: Manel Kape def. Asu Almabayev by way of R3 TKO (punches, 2:16)
