Dana White and Co. will be concluding 2024 with UFC on ESPN 63 at Tampa as Colby Covington steps into the Octagon after a year away, to headline the event against Joaquin Buckley. However, apart from the welterweight main event, there’s another match on the card that will add to the growing list of exciting fights in the flyweight division, and that’s the clash between Manel Kape and Bruno Silva. The two experienced fighters, Kape and Silva, will clash to cement their status as potential contenders for the flyweight title. Well, as the fighters make their way towards the Octagon, we’ll be making a brief analysis of the featherweight as we approach the fight this weekend.

Ahead of the fight, fans are curious about the head-to-head stats of the fighters. Well, worry not, as we will dive deep into the stats comparison, prediction, and much more. So, without further ado, let’s get started!

Record and stats comparison between Manel Kape and Bruno Silva

When it comes to overall experience, Manel Kape has clocked in more time fighting than Bruno Silva. With a career record of 19 victories and 7 defeats, ‘Starboy’ has one of the best knockout ratios within the flyweight division (57%), with zero draws and no-contest-declared fights. Despite his dominance and a promotional record of 4-3, the Angolan mixed martial artist came up short in his last fight against Muhammad Mokaev, losing by unanimous decision at UFC 304.

On the other hand, the Brazilian Bruno Silva has a career record of 14 victories, 5 defeats, and 2 no-contests. On a statistical front, the 34-year-old vet has registered a career total of 6 knockout victories, which is 5 less than Manel Kape, despite having six fewer fights than the Angolan. Not only that ‘Bulldog’ has fewer submission victories than Kape, despite being a black belt in BJJ under Felipe Vidal. The Brazilian fighter has 4 victories by submission while the Angolan Kape on the other hand, has 5 submission victories.

Furthermore, Manel Kape has arguably fought tougher opponents than Silva as before the UFC, he was fighting in Japan under the RIZIN banner. Regardless, now that we know about their record and stats comparison, let us move forward to their general attributes, that could factor in as keys to victory for either fighter.

Kape vs. Silva – age, height, weight, reach, and more

In addition to his records, Manel Kape has another advantage over Bruno Silba, which is his height. The 31-year-old fighter stands 1 inch or two centimeters taller at 5’5″, than the Brazilian fighter who stands at 5″4 or 164 cm tall. Manel Kape has an advantage in reach over Silva as well, the Brazilian has a reach of 66.0″ (168cm) while the Angolan has a reach of 68.0″ (173cm). The Angolan Kape is the younger fighter among the two at 31, with Silva being older by three years at 34.

As per their last weigh-ins, Manel Kape and Bruno Silva respectively weighed in at 125.5  and 126 lbs. For Manel Kape, a win over Bruno Silva will spell a potential crash at the flyweight title as he asserted at the press conference, “A win over Bruno is going to get me to the title,”. He further stated, “I’m still on a winning streak, by the way. I didn’t lose my last fight.” Well, Kape did lose to Muhammad Mokaev in his last fight, despite that fight being a close bout. Tapology has Manel Kape as the favorite to win the fight while Silva is the moderate underdog.

Manel Kape seems like a man on a mission, but one shouldn’t underestimate Bruno Silva, as the Brazilian phenom is on a four-fight win streak (all finishes), with the moment of three knockout victories and one submission win. With the increasing excitement of the flyweight division lately, this fight only adds to the intrigue of the lowest weight class in the UFC. At this point, the victory on Saturday could be anyone’s. Who do you think will win? Do let us know in the comments down below.