UFC 304 stars Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape were involved in an explosive scrap involving 10 men.
Both UFC fighters are set to meet at UFC 304 in Manchester on Saturday night in a flyweight clash that could determine who will face champion Alexandre Pantoja.
The event is being held at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester, where Mokaev started his MMA career after moving to England from Dagestan as a refugee.
But before they had the chance to fight in the Octagon, both teams were engaged in a mass brawl in the hotel they are staying at in Manchester.
Footage captured both entourages of Mokaev and Kape furiously clashing in a video that has since gone viral with a total of 10 people involved.
Security eventually intervened to restrain the combatants, in which it appeared Mokaev suffered a cut to the face.
While for many it might have appeared as a random attack, there is bad blood between the two fighters.
Jean Silva, one of Kape’s teammates, revealed how the 30-year-old and his Saturday night opponent clashed outside a gym.
“Manel Kape hit Mokaev here outside the gym a while ago,” Silva said.
“He elbowed Mokaev in the head on the street bro. Bro, he caught Mokaev at the entrance here to the (UFC) PI, he headbutted him and elbowed him, in the street.
“He opened Mokaev’s head a week before his fight. He’s (Kape) a psychopath.”
Kape made his own response on social media site X, saying that he was provoked as he wrote: “What kind of Muslim are you? You gave me Salam asked to take a picture and then tried to punch me in the betrayal.
“I can see now you are not a child of the dagestao, because there are created men you are just a poor b****** raised on a low income in Manchester without honor and principles.
“When I hit you in Vegas I went alone and I told you to be ready, I don’t hit men with their guard down or distracted or on the back.
“I thought everything was solved, but now the carnage will continue… Shaytan!”
While Mokaev might have had his head cut open twice in altercations involving Kape outside of the Octagon, the 23-year-old might fancy his chances in it.
That is because he is unbeaten throughout his MMA career, including six UFC victories.
Kape, meanwhile, has won four and lost two in the UFC – but his four wins have all come in a row and he has 19 wins overall in MMA out of 25.
There is a top card billed for the Manchester event, which will see native Tom Aspinall and welterweight champion Leon Edwards in action, as well as Paddy Pimblett, and all the details can be found here.
UFC 304 full card
Main card
- CO–MAIN EVENT: Leon Edwards (c) vs Belal Muhammad – for UFC Welterweight Championship
- CO-MAIN EVENT: Tom Aspinall vs Curtis Blaydes – for UFC interim Heavyweight Championship
- Bobby Green vs. Paddy Pimblett
- Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Gregory Rodrigues
- Arnold Allen vs Giga Chikadze
Preliminary card
News Summary:
- Security intervene as footage captures UFC fighters get into explosive 10-man brawl ahead of Manchester event
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