UFC flyweight withdraws from bout, Sean Strickland challenges Michael Chiesa, Petr Yan mocks Sean O’Malley: MMA News Roundup

Manel Kape has withdrawn from the main event of UFC Vegas 91, prompting Sean Strickland to issue a challenge to Michael Chiesa. In addition, Petr Yan has taken a jab at Sean O’Malley.

#3 Manel Kape pulls out of UFC Vegas 91 headliner against Matheus Nicolau

Despite being a controversial figure, men’s flyweight fighter Manel Kape has once again sparked controversy with the recent news that he has withdrawn from his scheduled main event fight later this month.

Kape was scheduled for a rematch against Matheus Nicolau on April 27 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The two had previously faced off in 2021, with ‘Starboy’ narrowly losing the fight by split-decision.

Despite the unknown reasons for Kape’s withdrawal, the promotion swiftly announced his replacement. Nicolau will now square off against former title contender Alex Perez in the main event.

Sean Strickland calls out Michael Chiesa for a potential showdown after heated exchange on social media

After exchanging punches on social media, Sean Strickland has issued a challenge to Michael Chiesa for a fight.

Despite his controversial and outspoken nature, ‘Tarzan’ has gained a reputation as one of the most fearless fighters on the roster, never hesitating to share his opinions on any situation. In a recent statement, the former middleweight champion targeted men who, like himself, do not have children.

Strickland believes that men who choose to own dogs are living superficially and should prioritize having children and building a family instead. In a tweet, he stated:

Chiesa quickly replied to Strickland’s post, asserting that it was Strickland who needed to reassess his life. He penned:

“If you’re a grown a** childless man hating on someone for loving a dog… you gotta rethink your life. Rich or poor.”

In response, Strickland retaliated against Chiesa and proposed resolving their dispute through physical combat. He stated:

”@MikeMav22 I’m not saying you’re wrong but you talk a lot of shit to me and you haven’t earned that right. You’re not just a random person on X. No free pass. I think it’s time you get an opportunity to be my equal. Not at the PI but I think it’s time.”

#3 Petr Yan taunts Sean O’Malley over his ties with the UFC

Petr Yan recently directed his criticism towards Sean O’Malley, accusing him of being too closely connected to the UFC after winning the bantamweight championship.

The feud between Yan and O’Malley started during their intense battle at UFC 280. Despite the tough and closely fought match, ‘Sugar’ emerged victorious through a split-decision, earning the chance to challenge Aljamain Sterling for the championship.

During a recent interview with ‘Gorilla Fighting’, ‘No Mercy’ reignited his feud with O’Malley by stating that the bantamweight champion relies too heavily on his connection with the MMA promotion. He elaborated by saying,

“For Sean [O’Malley], the UFC is everything. It’s not everything to me. I don’t have the attitude that I overvalue it and I don’t see myself in other organizations. MMA is not everything to me.”

Read Yan’s comments here: