MANEL KAPE VS ZHALGAS ZHUMAGULOV
Flyweights Manel Kape and Zhalgas Zhumagulov meet in this matchup of unranked competitors looking to close out their respective 2021 campaigns with a second straight victory.
After arriving in the UFC amidst much fanfare, Kape stumbled out of the gate, dropping decisions to Alexandre Pantoja and Matheus Nicolau in his first two Octagon appearances. Last time out, however, “StarBoy” showed why so many were hyped about his joining the 125-pound ranks as he knocked out Ode’ Osbourne with a beautiful flying knee late in the opening round of their UFC 265 clash.
Zhumagulov arrived with no fanfare, but similarly dropped a pair of decisions to begin his UFC run. A month before Kape halted Osbourne in Houston, Zhumagulov collected his first UFC victory as well, submitting Jerome Rivera with a modified guillotine choke two minutes into their encounter at UFC 264.
Things are wide open in the flyweight division at the moment and a standout effort from either of these men has the potential to carry them into the rankings to close out the year. Each looked outstanding in their last appearance and will look to build on that at the other’s expense this weekend in Las Vegas.
JAKE MATTHEWS VS JEREMIAH WELLS
Young veteran Jake Matthews and older sophomore Jeremiah Wells square off here in what profiles as an intriguing clash of styles in the welterweight division.
Still only 27 years old, Matthews makes his 16th appearance in the Octagon on Saturday, looking to bounce back from his third-round submission loss to Sean Brady at UFC 259 in March. The Aussie is 6-2 in the UFC since moving up to welterweight, including a victory over Li Jingliang, and will look to recapture that form when he takes on Wells this weekend.
A 35-year-old veteran of the rugged East Coast scene, Wells impressed in his short-notice debut in June, laying out Warlley Alves just 30 seconds into the second round. A training partner of Brady’s under Daniel Gracie in Philadelphia, the powerful neophyte can take a major step forward in the division with a second consecutive victory on Saturday.
Matthews has long felt like someone capable of developing into a contender in the welterweight division and his loss to Brady doesn’t change any of that, while Wells showed he’s powerful and capable of upsetting the apple cart in his debut win. This is a terrific matchup with low-key stakes attached and it will be interesting to see how it plays out inside the Octagon.
