Report: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Manel Kape Slated For UFC Vegas 15 on December 19th.

Mandatory Credit: Josh Hedges - Zuffa LLC & RIZIN FF

Former RIZIN FF bantamweight gold holder, Manel 'Prodígio' Kape is in line for his UFC debut, for the second time following a scrapped first attempt.

Originally scheduled to tackle, Rogério Bontorin at UFC 252 in August at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada - the Angolan-born finisher was removed from the event after Bontorin suffered an ankle injury.

Slated to meet flyweight challenger, Alexandre 'The Cannibal' Pantoja at UFC Vegas 15 also at the UFC Apex in 'Sin City' - Kape looks to finally make his premier Octagon appearance, per a recent report from MMA Junkie reporter, Farah Hannoun. 

Rio de Janeiro native, Pantoja looks to not only snap the three-fight rise of Kape, but prevent a two-fight skid of his own. The 30-year-old last featured at UFC Fight Island 2 in July, dropping a unanimous decision defeat to former ACB flyweight best, Askar Askarov. 

Porto based finisher, Kape has won his last three on the trot, last competing at RIZIN FF 20 on New Year's Eve last, taking home a second frame knockout win over Kai Asakura in a rematch. 

Pantoja, a former RFA flyweight champion is a nine-fight Octagon veteran, where he's amassed a 6-3 promotional record. The American Top Team mover has scored eight knockouts and eight submission wins, taking eye-catching UFC victories over the likes of Eric Shelton, Neil Seery, Brandon Moreno, common-foe, Ulka Sasaki, one-time title challenger, Wilson Reis, and Matt Schnell. 

Nineteen-fight professional veteran, Kape, has scored a 15-4 résumé - securing an impressive nine knockout victories as well as five submission stoppages. The 26-year-old has notched victories over the likes of the above mentioned, Asakura, UFC alums, Takeya Mizugaki, and Ian McCall, Seiichiro Ito, and Daniel Barez.