MMA Preview – Manel Kape vs Zhalgas Zhumagulov at UFC on ESPN 31
MANEL KAPE VS ZHALGAS ZHUMAGULOV FACTS
When is UFC on ESPN 31? Sunday 5th December, 2021 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC on ESPN 31? UFC APEX, Enterprise, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC on ESPN 31? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC events
What channel is UFC on ESPN 31 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC on ESPN 31? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
MANEL KAPE VS ZHALGAS ZHUMAGULOV LOWDOWN
Manel Kape (16-6) finally showed us what got him to the UFC dance. In 2019, he won the Rizin bantamweight championship by knocking out Seiichiro Ito, Takeya Mizugaki and Kai Asakura in the space of eight months. However, his entrance to the flyweight division did not go to plan. He had an incredibly tough debut against veteran Alexandre Pantoja and lost a unanimous decision. He then lost another decision, but it was a very tight split decision against Matheus Nicolau. He returned five months later in August this year and dispatched Ode Osbourne with a lightening flying knee in the first round.
Zhalgas Zhumagulov (14-5) has had a very similar path to UFC on ESPN 31. He enjoyed a four-fight win streak for Fight Nights Global on his way to the UFC that included the scalps of current UFC fighters Tyson Nam, Tagir Ulanbekov who he beat for the flyweight title and then defended it against UFC alumni Ali Bagautinov. He went on to lose his first two UFC fights via decision dropping unanimous points to Raulin Paiva and Amir Albazi. However, he jumped back into the win column with a finish and submission over Jerome Rivera back in July.
MANEL KAPE VS ZHALGAS ZHUMAGULOV PREDICTION
Kape will possess the size and power advantage as the natural bantamweight, but the UFC will not tolerate him missing weight again. The southpaw will go about business as usual patiently waiting to uncork his power from all eight limbs.
Kape can also wrestle and will need those skills defensively as Zhumagulov will look to suffocate him with his pressure. The Kazakhstani is well-rounded, but we do not expect him to spend much time trading with Kape on the feet.
Zhumagulov wins this by keeping the fight at close range, clinching up and taking Kape to the mat, sapping his energy and grinding out another decision. However, we are backing Kape to defend the majority of takedowns and landing more damage. He will not throw much volume, but his power should sway the judges with Zhumagulov’s durability keeping him in the fight.
Prediction: Kape via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Value Bet: Zhumagulov via Decision
