UFC signs RIZIN bantamweight sensation Manel Kape

Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty ImagesIt looks like light heavyweight Jiri Prochazka isn’t the only RIZIN champion on his way to the UFC. The Czech fighter picked up his contract to compete in the Octagon back in January, off a KO win over longtime UFC middleweight CB Dollaway. On March 30th AKA Thailand announced Prochazka would be joined by RIZIN bantamweight champion Manel Kape.

Kape took the belt, vacated by Kyoji Horiguchi following a recent knee injury, in a victory over homegrown star Kai Asakura—who defeated Horiguchi via shocking upset KO in a non-title bout back in August of last year. That win, a TKO in the second round, marked the third straight stoppage victory for the Portuguese…