Manel Kape thinks it's 'too early' for Muhammad Mokaev to go on UFC title run

MANCHESTER, England – Manel Kape plans to show Muhammad Mokaev a different level at UFC 304.

Kape (19-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) takes on Mokaev (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) on Saturday’s prelims (pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+) at Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

Mokaev is unbeaten, and has finished four of his six UFC opponents. However, former Rizin champion Kape aims to prove that he’ll be too big of a step up in competition for him.

“I’m going to try to make this quick because I have to put Mokaev in his place,” Kape told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at the UFC 304 media day. “In my opinion, this is too early for him, but we will see. It’s too early. There is levels to this game. He never faced a championship-caliber (fighter) and I see a lot of mistakes in his game – that’s why I say it’s too early for him.”

Kape alleged Mokaev stopped training at American Top Team because UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja was having his way with him in their grappling exchanges.

“Pantoja can say a lot of things about him because they trained before together, and I know Pantoja has been submitting him a lot,” Kape said. “He tapped a lot, and that’s the reason Mokaev doesn’t train at ATT. Actually, he’s been doing a good job.

“He’s been winning all the fights, but there is a lot of mistakes. He’s been struggling a lot – a lot of mistakes that if he faced someone in the top three in the UFC’s flyweight rankings, he’s going to get finished. So it’s going to be fun.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.