Rizin Champ Manel Kape Expected to Face Rogerio Bontorin at UFC 252

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A clash between Rizin bantamweight champion Manel Kape and Rogerio Bontorin is in the works for UFC 252.

Combate was first to report the matchup, which is expected to be contested at 125 pounds. UFC 252 takes place on Aug. 15 and is headlined by a trilogy bout between reigining heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier. A location for the event has not been revealed.

Kape, 26, claimed Rizin’s vacant bantamweight crown with a second-round TKO of Kai Asakura on Dec. 31. The AKA Thailand representative enters his UFC debut having won four of his last five Rizin appearances. “Prodigio” owns a 15-4 career mark that includes 14 triumphs inside the distance.

Bontorin had a four-bout winning streak halted at UFC Fight Night 167, where he dropped a unanimous verdict to Ray Borg on Feb. 15. The 28-year-old Brazilian began his UFC tenure with victories over Magomed Bibulatov and Raulian Paiva and is 16-2 with one no contest as a professional overall.