- Flyweight
- Angola
« Starboy »
Manel Kape Record, stats and next fight
23-7-0 (W-L-D)
15Wins by knockout
5Wins by submission
10First round finishes
Stats and record
30Pro fights
87%Finish rate
11UFC fights
2Title fights
4Performance bonuses
4Win streak
Wins by method
Losses by method
Profile
- Age
- 32 years
- Born
- November 14, 1993
- Birthplace
- Luanda, Angola
- Height
- 5'5" (165 cm)
- Weight
- 126 lbs (57 kg)
- Reach
- 68" (173 cm)
- Division
- Flyweight
- Fighting out of
- Porto, Portugal
- Team
- AKA Thailand
- UFC debut
- February 6, 2021
Fight history
-
Win
vs Kyoji Horiguchi Bonus
UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Horiguchi · Jun 20, 2026 · Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Method
- TKO (punches)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 2:42
-
Win
vs Brandon Royval Bonus
UFC on ESPN: Royval vs. Kape · Dec 13, 2025 · Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Method
- KO (punches)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 3:18
-
Win
vs Asu Almabayev Bonus
UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Almabayev · Mar 1, 2025 · Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Method
- TKO (retirement)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 2:16
-
Win
UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Buckley · Dec 14, 2024 · Tampa, Florida, United States
- Method
- TKO (body kick and punches)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 1:57
-
Loss
vs Muhammad Mokaev
UFC 304 · Jul 27, 2024 · Manchester, England
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Felipe dos Santos Bonus
UFC 293 · Sep 10, 2023 · Sydney, Australia
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs David Dvořák
UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland · Dec 17, 2022 · Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Zhalgas Zhumagulov
UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo · Dec 4, 2021 · Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Method
- TKO (punches)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 4:02
Show 22 earlier fights
-
Win
UFC 265 · Aug 7, 2021 · Houston, Texas, United States
- Method
- KO (flying knee and punches)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 4:44
-
Loss
vs Matheus Nicolau
UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad · Mar 13, 2021 · Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Method
- Decision (split)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
-
Loss
UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov · Feb 6, 2021 · Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Kai Asakura Title
Rizin 20 · Dec 31, 2019 · Saitama, Japan
- Method
- TKO (punches)
- Round
- 2
- Time
- 0:38
-
Win
vs Takeya Mizugaki
Rizin 18 · Aug 18, 2019 · Nagoya, Japan
- Method
- KO (punch)
- Round
- 2
- Time
- 1:36
-
Win
vs Seiichiro Ito
Rizin 15 · Apr 21, 2019 · Yokohama, Japan
- Method
- TKO (punch to the body)
- Round
- 2
- Time
- 3:59
-
Loss
vs Ulka Sasaki
Rizin 14 · Dec 31, 2018 · Saitama, Japan
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Yusaku Nakamura
Rizin 13 · Sep 30, 2018 · Saitama, Japan
- Method
- Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 4:27
-
Loss
vs Kai Asakura
Rizin 10 · May 6, 2018 · Fukuoka, Japan
- Method
- Decision (split)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
-
Loss
Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: Final Round · Dec 31, 2017 · Saitama, Japan
- Method
- Submission (arm-triangle choke)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 4:27
-
Win
vs Ian McCall
Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd Round · Dec 29, 2017 · Saitama, Japan
- Method
- TKO (doctor stoppage)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 1:46
-
Win
vs Erson Yamamoto
Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: Opening Round Part 2 · Oct 15, 2017 · Saitama, Japan
- Method
- TKO (head kick and punch)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 1:11
-
Win
vs Francisco Javier Asprilla
International Pro Combat 7 · Apr 27, 2015 · Lisbon, Portugal
- Method
- TKO (punches)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 4:59
-
Win
vs Antoine Gallinaro Title
Knock Out Championship 8 · Apr 18, 2015 · Cognac, France
- Method
- Submission (armbar)
- Round
- 4
- Time
- 2:26
-
Win
vs Miguel Valverde
Invictus Pro MMA League 2 · Dec 19, 2014 · Porto, Portugal
- Method
- Submission (rear-naked choke)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- N/A
-
Win
vs Daniel Barez
Ansgar Fighting League 2 · Nov 29, 2014 · Madrid, Spain
- Method
- Submission (armbar)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 3:25
-
Win
vs Hicham Rachid
Invictus Pro MMA League 1 · Jul 27, 2014 · Porto, Portugal
- Method
- KO (flying knee to the body)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 2:42
-
Loss
vs Souksavanh Khampasath
Knock Out Championship 7 · Apr 5, 2014 · Cognac, France
- Method
- Submission (rear-naked choke)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 3:27
-
Win
vs Marco Santos
Cage Fighters 3 · Jul 28, 2013 · Matosinhos, Portugal
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Ricardo Teixeira
Cage Fighters: Challengers Norte 2 · Feb 3, 2013 · Matosinhos, Portugal
- Method
- Submission (rear-naked choke)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 2:38
-
Win
vs Renato Ferreira
Cage Fighters: Challengers Norte 1 · Nov 4, 2012 · Matosinhos, Portugal
- Method
- TKO (punches)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 0:45
-
Win
vs Artur Gomes
Cage Fighters 2 · May 13, 2012 · Matosinhos, Portugal
- Method
- TKO (punches)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 4:27
Analysis
Manel Kape, known as “Starboy”, competes in the UFC flyweight division and comes from Angola.
His professional record stands at 23 wins and 7 losses. Of those wins, 15 came by KO or TKO, 5 by submission and 3 on the scorecards, a 87% finish rate.
He made his promotional debut on February 6, 2021 at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov against Alexandre Pantoja (loss). He has since gone 8-3 in 11 UFC bouts.
In his most recent fight, on June 20, 2026 at UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Horiguchi, he beat Kyoji Horiguchi by TKO (punches) in the third round.
His career includes 2 title fights and 4 performance bonuses.
He stands 165 cm and has a 173 cm reach.
He trains at AKA Thailand out of Porto, Portugal.
Data updated on September 28, 2026. Record and measurements cross-checked against official results and Wikipedia. Text written by the MMA Official editorial team.