MMA Preview – Matheus Nicolau vs Manel Kape at UFC Vegas 21
MATHEUS NICOLAU VS MANEL KAPE FACTS
When is UFC Vegas 21? Saturday 13th March, 2021 - 23:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC Vegas 21? UFC APEX, Enterprise, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC Vegas 21? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC events
What channel is UFC Vegas 21 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC Vegas 21? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
MATHEUS NICOLAU VS MANEL KAPE LOWDOWN
Matheus Nicolau (15-2-1) embarks on his second stint in the UFC and is eager to make a statement after getting released after one loss in 2018. That loss came after a six-fight winning streak including his first three UFC fights. He cinched up a beautiful Japanese necktie on Bruno Mequita on his debut and the earnt a split decision over John Moraga and a unanimous decision over Smolka before meeting Dustin Ortiz. He suffered his second loss and knockout of his career and then got released. The future on the flyweight division was very murky at the time and Nicolau collected two more wins before getting called up again – another Japanese necktie over Alan Gabriel (Future Fighting Championships) and Felipe Efrain via unanimous decision (Brave Combat Federation).
Manel Kape (15-5) is fresh off his UFC debut which was only last month. It did not go to plan losing a unanimous decision but he gave a good account of himself against the top contender Alexandre Pantoja. Now Kape hope to regain the momentum in 2019 that got him into the UFC by knocking out Seiichiro Ito, Takeya Mizugaki and Kai Asakura under the Rizin banner.
MATHEUS NICOLAU VS MANEL KAPE PREDICTION
Both men are UFC calibre, but they are heading to the APEX with a lot to prove. They are both still young and have a lot of time to make it to the top, but the flyweight division has never been more competitive and the UFC brass have been ruthless making cuts of late.
Stylistically, this is a fantastic match-up. They are both very well-rounded and will throw down at a frenetic pace. They are both electric strikers who can grapple. Kape has the edge on the feet with his knockout power but Nicolau has the edge on the ground with his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
It is great to see Nicolau back in the UFC but he has not fought for 19 months which is a worry especially as Kape has just gone through the process of fighting at the APEX and going three rounds with a UFC veteran.
Kape is going to be very dangerous in his southpaw stance and if he can check the leg kicks from the Brazilian he can counter with venom. If he can also mix in takedowns, he can steal the rounds but will have to be careful tangling with the black belt.
This will be a very competitive scrap with a mixture of striking and grappling. Nicolau is the value pick as the underdog but we are backing Kape to put on another impressive performance in familiar surroundings to pick up his first UFC win.
Prediction: Kape via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Value Bet: Nicolau via Decision
