MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to interrupt down the largest fights within the UFC. At the moment, he takes a better have a look at the UFC Combat Night time 253 important occasion between flyweights Manel Kape and Asu Almabayev.
Manel Kape UFC Combat Night time 253 preview
Manel Kape
Staple information:
Report: 20-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC
Top: 5’5″ Age: 31 Weight: 125 lbs. Attain: 68″
Final struggle: TKO win over Bruno Silva (Dec. 14, 2024)
Camp: Xtreme Couture MMA (Las Vegas)
Stance/putting fashion: Swap-stance/kickboxing
Danger administration: Honest
Supplemental information:+ Regional MMA titles+ Jiu-jitsu black belt+ 12 KO victories+ 5 submission wins+ 9 first-round finishes+ KO energy+ Dynamic striker^ Works effectively off the counter+ Harmful knees+ Good bodywork+ Serviceable wrestling^ Defensively and offensively+ Stable scrambler
Asu Almabayev UFC Combat Night time 253 preview
Asu Almabayev
Staple information:
21-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC
Top: 5’4″ Age: 31 Weight: 125 lbs. Attain: 65″
Final struggle: Choice win over Matheus Nicolau (Oct. 19, 2024)
Camp: Dar Professional Crew (Kazakhstan)
Stance/putting fashion: Orthodox/kickboxing
Danger administration: Good
Supplemental information:+ Regional MMA titles+ 3 KO victories+ 9 submission victories+ 4 first-round finishes+ Constant tempo and stress+ Steadily enhancing putting+ Correct spinning assaults+ Sturdy contained in the clinch^ Works effectively from bodylock+ Good takedown capability^ Transitions effectively from singles+ Stable transitional grappler
Manel Kape vs. Asu Almabayev focal point: The price of counters
Dec 14, 2024; Tampa, Florida, UNITED STATES; Manel Kape (crimson gloves) fights Bruno Silva (blue gloves) at Amalie Enviornment. Necessary Credit score: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Photographs
The principle occasion in Las Vegas incorporates a semi-impromptu struggle between two flyweights who’re conscious of the price of counters.
Regardless of being a dynamic showman with a strong arsenal, Manel Kape prefers to do most of his harm off the counter.
Fluent in each stances, Kape retains a smoothness to his shifts and lateral actions that open up potent offensive alternatives. From counter crosses to counter hooks, Kape retains a sequence of brief photographs that he’s able to unload on a hair-trigger.
When Kape is feeling in stride, he exhibits little situation with digging to the physique or mixing within the occasional knee up the middle to intercept degree adjustments. That mentioned, I’m unsure how wild Kape will get with flying knees or leg kicks contemplating the takedown risk at play.
Enter Asu Almabayev.
Though Almabayev’s looming takedowns account for the lion’s share of his counters, the Kazakh fighter nonetheless presents some fascinating appears on the toes.
A deceptively correct kicker, Almabayev isn’t shy about throwing the whole lot from entrance kicks in open-stance appears to spinning sidekicks to the physique and head of orthodox opposition.
Almabayev additionally packs first rate left hook and uppercut which are price anticipating, however “Zulfikar” – regardless of ending a number of coaching camps with Henri Hooft and firm at Kill Cliff FC – nonetheless appears to lack correct setups for his huge actions.
We haven’t seen a fighter exploit Almabayev on this space of his sport, largely as a result of effectiveness of the 31-year-old Kazak’s wrestling.
Manel Kape vs. Asu Almabayev breakdown curiosity: Successful the wrestling
Mar 9, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Asu Almabayev (blue gloves) fights CJ Vergara (crimson gloves) throughout UFC 299 at Kayesa Middle. Necessary Credit score: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports activities
Contemplating the crux of Almabayev’s sport, profitable the wrestling might be paramount for each events this Saturday.
Regardless of not having a Grasp of Sport credit score to his resume, Almabayev wrestles like he’s been doing it for many of his life. From reactive photographs within the open to discovering solutions within the clinch, seldom is Almabayev at a loss for concepts.
Almabayev’s greatest entries are off of singles, the place he both hikes onerous for a end or chains his approach to his opponent’s hips. And when Almabayev can set up any mixture of double-unders or over-unders, he’s fast to his sneaky inside and out of doors journeys.
Fortunately for Kape, he’s no stranger to wrestling and scrambling.
Even when Kape was developing within the rings of RIZIN, he was no stranger to having to each defend and end takedowns in sub-optimal positions. Kape has at all times had a powerful reactive sprawl in open area, however the Angola native has historically run into bother when going for submissions fairly than defending the place.
Kape has strong and easy transitions when working from topside, however he can get lackadaisical or complacent at occasions when working from his again (which will be maddening for his supporters contemplating how onerous Kape is able to scrambling).
Though Kape has come a good distance for the reason that submission losses earlier in his profession, the jiu-jitsu black belt might want to respect the abilities of Almabayev.
A tireless employee from topside, Almabayev sacrifices a few of the putting aggression you’d wish to see to make sure that his opponent is working onerous from unfavorable positions. And in the event that they’re capable of work their approach to the fence for help, Almabayev is fast to make use of the state of affairs towards them by nearly baiting them to show their again attempting to base up.
Solely needing however the smallest crack of daylight, Almabayev clearly prioritizes back-taking situations and finishes besides.
Manel Kape vs. Asu Almabayev odds
The oddsmakers and the general public are favoring the higher-ranked fighter, itemizing Kape -235 and Almabayev +180 through FanDuel.
Manel Kape vs. Asu Almabayev prediction, decide
Manel Kape
Contemplating the crux of Almabayev’s sport, profitable the wrestling might be paramount for each events this Saturday.
Regardless of not having a Grasp of Sport credit score to his resume, Almabayev wrestles like he’s been doing it for many of his life. From reactive photographs within the open to discovering solutions within the clinch, seldom is Almabayev at a loss for concepts.
Almabayev’s greatest entries are off of singles, the place he both hikes onerous for a end or chains his approach to his opponent’s hips. And when Almabayev can set up any mixture of double-unders or over-unders, he’s fast to his sneaky inside and out of doors journeys.
Fortunately for Kape, he’s no stranger to wrestling and scrambling.
Even when Kape was developing within the rings of RIZIN, he was no stranger to having to each defend and end takedowns in sub-optimal positions. Kape has at all times had a powerful reactive sprawl in open area, however the Angola native has historically run into bother when going for submissions fairly than defending the place.
Kape has strong and easy transitions when working from topside, however he can get lackadaisical or complacent at occasions when working from his again (which will be maddening for his supporters contemplating how onerous Kape is able to scrambling).
Though Kape has come a good distance for the reason that submission losses earlier in his profession, the jiu-jitsu black belt might want to respect the abilities of Almabayev.
A tireless employee from topside, Almabayev sacrifices a few of the putting aggression you’d wish to see to make sure that his opponent is working onerous from unfavorable positions. And in the event that they’re capable of work their approach to the fence for help, Almabayev is fast to make use of the state of affairs towards them by nearly baiting them to show their again attempting to base up.
Solely needing however the smallest crack of daylight, Almabayev clearly prioritizes back-taking situations and finishes besides.
Manel Kape vs. Asu Almabayev begin time, the place to observe
As the primary occasion, Kape and Almabayev are anticipated to make their walks to the octagon at roughly 9:15 p.m. ET. The struggle streams through ESPN+.
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