Manel Kape has proven himself as one of the most dangerous flyweights in the UFC, showcasing his striking power and dynamic skill set inside the Octagon. Known for his ability to finish fights in dramatic fashion, ‘Starboy’ has overcome a rocky start in the promotion which saw him lose back-to-back outings against Alexandre Pantoja and a controversial split decision loss to Matheus Nicolau.

He bounced back with a 4-fight win streak, highlighting the high-level preparation of his training camp and the work of the team behind him cannot be overstated. With his sights set on a future title shot, Kape’s training schedule for each fight is meticulously crafted with the help of his coaches and training partners. From the infamous training grounds of AKA Thailand to working with other top-tier gyms, let’s take a look at the key figures who are instrumental in his rise to prominence!

Who are Manel Kape’s coaches? Where is his gym?

Manel Kape has seen his stardom rise in the UFC in recent years. Popularly known as ‘Starboy’, Kape has been in a red hot form inside the Octagon. The #9 ranked flyweight has grown leaps and bounces during his journey in the UFC. Kape has been a longtime member of the AKA’s branch in Thailand. AKA is home to fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, and Islam Makhachev. So it should come as no surprise that one of his biggest assets is his ground game and grappling.

He has been working under the watchful guidance of Luliia Kukharchuk, who has helped him improve his game. Kape has also worked with Xtreme Couture, where fighters like Francis Ngannou and Sean Strickland train under the watchful eye of Eric Nicksick.

Before making a move to the UFC in 2022, Kape had already made a name for himself in the sport. However, he has lived up to the expectations after delivering some stellar performances inside the Octagon. Of his four UFC wins, two came via finishes, and one of them was a first-round flying knee KO!

The 31-year-old not only has good quality coaches but also has world-class training partners who are helping him prepare for the bout! Kape’s development from a promising fighter into a top contender can definitely be attributed to the names who share the training room with him.

A long list of Manel Kape’s teammates

The old adage iron sharpens iron could not be more true for MMA. High-level training partners elevate their teammates as well – look at AKA or Xtreme Couture for example. Kape is one of the most complete fighters in the division and his training partners have helped him to a great end. The 31-year-old has had the privilege of training with the legend Khabib Nurmagomedov. He took to his Instagram account to share a picture of him with ‘The Eagle’. Kape seemed impressed with the Dagestani and tried to learn a lot from him.

Jean Silva also is one of the training partners of ‘StarBoy’. Now, Manel Kape’s upcoming bout against Bruno Silva is a crucial step towards his goal of challenging for the UFC flyweight title. In an interview ahead at the UFC Tampa/UFC on ESPN 63 media day, ‘Starboy’ stated, “A win over Bruno is going to get me to the title, I’m still on a winning streak, by the way. I didn’t lose my last fight.”

Confident in his abilities and ready to prove his worth, Kape is focused on putting on an exciting performance, knowing that a victory will move him closer to his long-awaited rematch with the champion, Alexandre Pantoja. However, there are always hurdles along the one. One major one was when his team got into a major scuffle!

When Manel Kape’s team got into an altercation

The teams of Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape heated up the atmosphere before their fight at UFC 304 in Manchester with an altercation that many UFC fans might still remember. Back at the hotel where the fighters are staying, members of Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape’s teams staged a fight that quickly escalated into a physical confrontation, forcing security personnel to intervene to control the situation.

The Angolan fighter offered his version of events through a tweet, claiming that the incident began when the Russian tried to hit him while they were posing for a photo. He even questioned Muhammad’s integrity. He wrote on X, “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.” For his part, Mokaev responded on Instagram, posting a selfie with a message that read: “This is how it happens in life. They didn’t teach you how to fight,” suggesting that Kape lacks skills and ethics in combat.

With both fighters set to face off in the Octagon before the event, the tension between their teams added an extra layer of anticipation. However, it was Muhammad Mokaev who turned out to be the final winner of the fight via decision. But what do you think? Will Kape be able to win this upcoming fight against Bruno Silva? Let us know in the comments.