Manel Kape Bio
Manuel Pedro Gomes, known professionally as Manel Kape, is an Angolan-born Portuguese mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and trains out of AKA Thailand. A professional since 2012, Kape has competed for Cage Fighters, Knock Out Championship, and Rizin Fighting Federation, where he became a champion. As of November 18, 2025, he is ranked number six in the UFC flyweight rankings and carries the ring name “Starboy.”
Throughout his career, Manel Kape has built a reputation as a fast, aggressive finisher with a well-rounded skill set. He is a former Rizin Bantamweight Champion and a former Knock Out Championship Bantamweight Champion, and he became the first Portuguese-Angolan fighter signed to the UFC. Standing 165 centimeters tall with a 173-centimeter reach, he has compiled a professional record of 22 wins and 7 losses across 29 bouts, with 14 victories by knockout.
Early Life and Background
Manel Kape was born on November 14, 1993, in Luanda, Angola. He later relocated to Portugal, where he grew up and developed an interest in combat sports at a young age. Kape was introduced to fighting through boxing, competing in several amateur boxing matches before transitioning to mixed martial arts as a teenager. His first MMA fight came at the age of 14, marking the start of a career that would eventually take him around the world.
He made his professional MMA debut at 17 years old, fighting in the Portuguese regional scene with the Cage Fighters organization. Kape quickly established himself as a dynamic and confident competitor, relying on sharp striking and an evolving ground game. His early career was shaped by frequent competition and steady progression through the European circuit, where he built the foundation for his future international success.
Path to MMA
Manel Kape’s path to professional MMA began in the Portuguese regional scene, where he fought under the Cage Fighters banner. He earned a first-round TKO victory over Artur Gomes at Cage Fighters 2, then stopped Renato Ferreira in just 45 seconds at Cage Fighters – Challengers Norte 1. He later notched his first submission win, finishing Ricardo Teixeira with a rear naked choke in the first round, before capping his Cage Fighters run with a unanimous decision over Marco Santos at Cage Fighters 3.
After moving to Knock Out Championship, Kape suffered his first professional loss but rebounded with a series of finishes, capturing the KOC Bantamweight title in the fourth round against Antoine Gallinaro. Following a two-year stretch marked by three consecutive canceled bouts, he signed with Japan’s Rizin Fighting Federation. The move to Asia gave Kape a larger international platform, and he used it to announce himself as one of the most exciting bantamweights in the world, setting the stage for his eventual UFC signing.
Manel Kape Career
Early Career (2012-2017)
Manel Kape’s early career was defined by a steady climb through regional European promotions. He built a versatile finishing toolkit at Cage Fighters and Knock Out Championship, scoring wins by knockout, submission, and decision. His KOC Bantamweight title victory in 2017 established him as a champion on the European stage and gave him the credentials to pursue opportunities abroad.
During this period, Kape competed across multiple organizations, including Invictus Fighting Championships and Ansgar Fighting League, where he continued to add high-profile finishes to his resume. He suffered setbacks, including his first professional loss, but consistently rebounded with notable performances. By the end of this developmental phase, Kape had compiled a strong regional record and was ready to test himself against top international competition.
Rizin Fighting Federation Breakthrough (2018-2019)
Manel Kape signed with the Rizin Fighting Federation and entered the promotion’s bantamweight Grand Prix. He made an immediate impact at Rizin 6, scoring a 71-second head-kick knockout of Erson Yamamoto. Kape then defeated Ian McCall via doctor stoppage in the first round, after a heated weigh-in altercation, before losing a hard-fought semifinal bout to Kyoji Horiguchi by third-round arm triangle choke.
Kape continued to deliver memorable performances, dropping a split decision to Kai Asakura at Rizin 10 in a fight nominated for MMA Junkie Fight of the Month. He bounced back with a rear naked choke win over Yusaku Nakamura at Rizin 13, but was later outpointed by Ulka Sasaki. After stopping Seiichiro Ito with a body shot at Rizin 15, Kape earned a dominant second-round knockout of veteran Takeya Mizugaki at Rizin 18, calling out Horiguchi for the bantamweight title.
When Horiguchi vacated the Rizin bantamweight crown due to injury, Kape faced Kai Asakura in a rematch for the vacant title. He produced a second-round TKO to claim the Rizin Bantamweight Championship, a performance that earned him a Fighter of the Year nomination at the Asian MMA Awards. The Rizin run cemented Kape’s reputation as a world-class bantamweight and made him one of the most talked-about flyweight prospects heading into the UFC.
UFC Era (2020-Present)
On March 30, 2020, Manel Kape announced a four-fight deal with the UFC, becoming the first Portuguese-Angolan fighter signed to the promotion. His debut was delayed by multiple canceled bookings, including bouts against Rogério Bontorin and Alexandre Pantoja. Kape finally entered the Octagon on February 6, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov, dropping a unanimous decision to Pantoja. He followed that with a controversial split decision loss to Matheus Nicolau at UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad, a fight scored unanimously for Kape by 21 of 21 media members.
Kape picked up his first UFC victory at UFC 265, where he knocked out Ode’ Osbourne with a flying knee in round one, despite weighing in three pounds over the flyweight non-title limit. He then stopped Zhalgas Zhumagulov via first-round TKO at UFC on ESPN 31. After several canceled bookings, Kape returned at UFC 293, where he outpointed Felipe dos Santos in a bout that earned him his first Fight of the Night bonus.
In 2024, Kape dropped a unanimous decision to Muhammad Mokaev at UFC 304, but rebounded with a third-round TKO of Bruno Gustavo da Silva at UFC on ESPN 63. He opened 2025 with a third-round TKO of Asu Almabayev at UFC Fight Night 253, earning a Performance of the Night bonus. A scheduled bout with Brandon Royval at UFC 317 was canceled after Kape suffered a broken foot, and the two were rescheduled for December 13, 2025, at UFC on ESPN 73.
Driving Style and Strengths
Manel Kape is best known for his explosive striking, sharp combinations, and confidence inside the cage. He blends powerful kicks, particularly left head kicks and body shots, with aggressive forward pressure, while continuing to develop a submission game built around rear naked chokes and armbars. His ability to adapt between weight classes and promotions has been a defining feature of his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kape’s most memorable moments include his 71-second knockout of Erson Yamamoto in his Rizin debut, his second-round TKO win over Kai Asakura to capture the Rizin Bantamweight Championship, and his flying-knee finish of Ode’ Osbourne in his first UFC victory. His climb to number six in the UFC flyweight rankings in 2025 marks another career milestone, underscoring his status as a top contender in the division.
Manel Kape Career Wins
Manel Kape has compiled 22 professional victories across multiple major promotions, including Cage Fighters, Knock Out Championship, Rizin Fighting Federation, and the UFC. His wins include 14 by knockout, 5 by decision, and 2 by submission, reflecting his finishing instinct and well-rounded skill set. He has captured championship gold at both Knock Out Championship and Rizin, and has earned UFC Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses.
UFC Highlights
In the UFC, Manel Kape’s first win came against Ode’ Osbourne at UFC 265, where a first-round flying knee earned him a knockout victory. He followed that with a first-round TKO of Zhalgas Zhumagulov at UFC on ESPN 31, and a hard-fought unanimous decision over Felipe dos Santos at UFC 293 that earned him his first Fight of the Night bonus. His most recent UFC victory came at UFC Fight Night 253, where a third-round TKO of Asu Almabayev brought him a Performance of the Night bonus.
Other Wins & Performances
Outside the UFC, Manel Kape captured the Knock Out Championship Bantamweight title in 2017 with a fourth-round armbar of Antoine Gallinaro. He later won the Rizin Bantamweight Championship with a second-round TKO of Kai Asakura, capping a remarkable run through the Grand Prix field. His 2018 TKO of veteran Takeya Mizugaki at Rizin 18 and his stoppage of Seiichiro Ito at Rizin 15 are among his most notable finishes in the Rizin organization.
Manel Kape Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Detailed public information about Manel Kape’s parents and siblings is limited. He was born in Luanda, Angola, and raised in Portugal, where his early exposure to combat sports helped shape his future in mixed martial arts.
Personal Life
Manel Kape currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, and trains out of AKA Thailand. Public details about his spouse and children have not been widely confirmed. He continues to be active on social media, where he shares updates about his training and fighting career.
2025 Season Performance
Manel Kape opened 2025 with a third-round TKO of Asu Almabayev at UFC Fight Night 253, a Performance of the Night-winning performance that pushed his ranking to number six in the UFC flyweight division. The win reinforced his status as a top contender and set the stage for a high-profile bout with Brandon Royval later in the year.
A scheduled matchup with Royval at UFC 317 in June 2025 was scrapped after Kape suffered a broken foot. The two were rescheduled for December 13, 2025, at UFC on ESPN 73, giving Kape a marquee fight to close out the year. With his ranking, momentum, and finishing ability, Kape remains firmly in the flyweight title picture heading into the back half of 2025.