The final chapter of the 2024 UFC calendar became a redemption ground for many fighters. Among them, one name stood out the most—Manel Kape. Carrying the burden of his prior defeat to Muhammad Mokaev, ‘The Starboy’ had a chip on his shoulder. He delivered a blockbuster performance with a stunning comeback, securing a vicious third-round knockout victory over Bruno Silva. In the adrenaline rush of the moment, the former Rizin champion took a leap of faith and made a bold request to Dana White during their cage-side conversation. But what was it? A title shot, perhaps?

Before the event, Manel Kape had expressed his desire for a rematch against flyweight division kingpin Alexandre Pantoja, claiming, “Bruno (Silva) is going to get me to the title.” However, in a surprising twist, ‘The Starboy’ recently changed his stance. Speaking on the ‘Grind City Media Podcast‘ on YouTube, when the host asked about his conversation with White, the Angola-American affirmed, “Everything’s good. Me and Dana, everything’s good, you know. They’re going to give me what I want—what I want and what is realistic, you know, what is realistic right now.”

However, Kape quickly took a step back from his previous stance, explaining, “It’s not about getting the title. I’m going to get something much better than the title right now.” A prize richer than the gold? What could be better than becoming the division king? Perhaps, in Conor McGregor’s language, a ‘red p-nty night’? Who knows?

Even the UFC boss doesn’t seem inclined to grant the #6-ranked flyweight a title shot just yet. Following UFC Tampa, during the post-fight press conference, White dismissed rumors of a potential Manel Kape vs. Alexandre Pantoja rematch. The flyweight division, once brimming with excitement, now finds itself in a lull. ‘The Cannibal’, who has dominated the division for so long, has derailed almost every challenger, leaving little room for fresh matchups.

Even the UFC’s recent attempt to inject new life into the weight class with Japanese star Kai Asakura hasn’t provided the reigning champion with any fresh challenges. So, what’s next for Manel Kape? Let’s explore.

Who does Manel Kape want to settle unfinished business with?

While Manel Kape remains focused on the 125lbs title, he’s more than willing to settle his unfinished business with the #5 ranked flyweight, Kai Kara-France. After his victory at UFC Tampa, ‘The Starboy’ didn’t hold back, immediately calling out Kara-France with a bold, “F*** Kai Kara-France.” Kara-France quickly fired back with a fiery response. Originally, the UFC scheduled the two to meet at UFC 293 last year, but a week before the event, the New Zealander suffered a concussion during training, forcing Felipe Dos Santos to step in at short notice.

The former Rizin star believes now it’s the right time to shut down his arch-nemesis. Yesterday, Kape once again took a jab at Kara-France after the latter accused him of “a lot of bark, no bite.” The Angola-American responded with a bold, trash-talking statement on X, writing, “@kaikarafrance If there were no cameras, you’d be unconscious by now. And deep down, you know that. You’re my b-ch, your a-s belongs to me. I’ll beat you till you love me, b-ch.”

What do you think about Manel Kape potentially earning a title shot against Alexandre Pantoja? With the flyweight division seemingly running out of fresh contenders to challenge ‘The Cannibal’, should Dana White give ‘The Starboy’ another opportunity to face him? Keep in mind that the former Rizin champion was still relatively new to the UFC when they first fought. Share your thoughts below.