The Angolan-Portuguese fighter who holds the UFC flyweight knockout record
In short: Manel Kape is a force of nature in the UFC flyweight division. Known for his explosive striking and high-stakes drama, he has achieved a feat unmatched by any other fighter in the division's history: the longest knockout streak.
Born in 1993, the Angolan-Portuguese professional mixed martial artist began his career with boxing before making his professional MMA debut at age 17. Since then, Kape has ascended through various promotions, including Rizin Fighting Federation, where he became the Bantamweight Champion. A 2022 Nevada State Athletic Commission inquiry followed his positive test for a DHCMT metabolite; although his 17 pg/mL concentration sat under the 100 pg/mL USADA limit, his professional path has faced technical acclaim alongside major disputes.
In the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Kape has established himself as a premier striker. As of September 19, 2026, he holds the #1 spot in the Meta UFC flyweight rankings. His statistical dominance in the division is evidenced by his record of six knockouts, the highest in UFC flyweight history, and a four-fight knockout streak, the longest in the division's history. He also holds a tie for the second-most knockdowns in the division with eight, trailing only Deiveson Figueiredo.
Kape's fighting style is characterized by extreme precision and sudden finishes. He maintains a 55.1% significant strike accuracy, the fifth-highest in UFC flyweight history. His ability to end fights abruptly has earned him multiple accolades, including three Performance of the Night awards—earned against Asu Almabayev, Brandon Royval, and Kyoji Horiguchi—and a Fight of the Night bonus for his bout against Felipe dos Santos. His career continues to be defined by high-impact victories, including a $100,000 Performance of the Night award for his 2026 victory over Horiguchi.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Manel Kape
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-manel-kape.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Culture · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
