Manel Kape was the star of the UFC Fight Night at the Apex in Las Vegas, delivering a stunning performance that ended with a technical knockout of Asabayev in the third round. This victory has positioned Kape as a strong contender for the title, with many considering him the next in line after the upcoming fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Kara-France. Kape’s impressive striking skills allowed him to connect solid combos, leaving Asabayev with no answers and forcing the referee to intervene.
The event was filled with exciting matches, including the co-main event where Cody Brundage knocked out Julián Márquez at the end of the first round after a intense and violent four minutes and 45 seconds. Mario Pinto continued his rise in the heavyweight division with a knockout of Austin Lane, while American prospect Danny Barlow lost his undefeated status after being knocked out by Sam Patterson in the first round. This was undoubtedly the surprise of the night.
## Ribovics loses after a controversial decision
A controversial moment occurred in the fight between Nasrat Haqparast and Esteban Ribovics. Despite Ribovics hitting more and having a lower percentage of success, the judges awarded the victory to Haqparast via a divided decision. This outcome has slightly diminished the hype surrounding Ribovics, while Haqparast has now accumulated five consecutive victories and is on the edge of the top 15 in the lightweight division. Haqparast implemented his strategy effectively in the third and final round, convincing two of the judges to give him the win.
Ribovics had come into this fight after a notable 2024 performance against Daniel Zellhuber, with an incredible story of overcoming adversity behind him. He was the favorite for this match, despite the high level of his opponent. Although this loss slows his rise, his future remains promising considering the caliber of opponents he has faced recently and the level of performance he has delivered. Both Haqparast and Ribovics are likely to be seen in the rankings in the not-too-distant future.
## Evening results
### Main Card
– Manel Kape beat Asabayev by technical knockout (punch) – Round 3, 2:16
– Cody Brundage defeated Julián Márquez by technical knockout (punch) – Round 1, 4:45
– Nasrat Haqparast defeated Esteban Ribovics by divided decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
– Hyder Amil beat William Gomis by divided decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
– Sam Patterson beat Danny Barlow by knockout (blows) – Round 1, 3:10
### Preliminary Card
– Mario Pinto beat Austen Lane by knockout (right hook) – Round 2, 0:39
– Chepe Mariscal defeated Ricardo Ramos via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
– Danny Silva defeated Lucas Almeida by divided decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
– JJ Aldrich beat Andrea Lee by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
– Ramazonbek Temirov defeated Charles Johnson by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)