Ranked flyweight Manel Kape is back in action this weekend, after a handful of fight cancellations forced him to the sidelines. He’s back to face short notice replacement Felipe dos Santos, who is stepping in for an injured Kai Kara-France.
Kape is the 10th ranked flyweight contender and there isn’t much to gain for him at UFC 293, but it’s a massive opportunity for dos Santos to make a quick name for himself in the Octagon.
The UFC 293 co-main event is a heavyweight banger between No. 6 and No. 7. Tai Tuivasa, who made his UFC debut six years ago in Sydney, faces Alexander Volkov. The winner likely puts themselves in position for an important fight next time out, with an opportunity to insert their name into the title shot conversation
UFC 293’s main event features one of MMA’s biggest stars and one of the sport’s most controversial personalities, as UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya defends his title versus Sean Strickland.
Strickland is currently the fifth-ranked contender, and beating one of the pound-for-pound top fighters in the world would be the perfect way to capture his first UFC title. For Adesanya, beating Strickland helps him maintain his place on the middleweight throne and notches another spot on his legacy as he looks to become one of the all-time greats.
