UFC Fight Night 216 – David Dvořák lost, defeated by Manel Kape

Dvořák (20-5) started after a loss for the first time since October 2012. He dropped a respectable 16-game hitting streak in March. Matheus Nicolau from Brazil deprived him of his almost ten-year invincibility when he finished fifth in the flyweight category (up to 57 kg). The 30-year-old Czech was ranked ninth before the match.

Three pegs built worse Coffee (18-6) he is a former bantamweight champion (do 61kg) one of the most prestigious Rizin organizations in the world. He is a feared shooter, out of 17 wins over Dvořák, he finished 16 short of the limit (11 KOs and 5 submissions).

Kape pushed from the center of the octagon in the first two rounds. Dvořák ran around the perimeter of the cage, he had respect for his opponent’s strength. Both fighters hinted a lot, looking for the right distance and reading the opponent.

After the first half of the 1st round, Kape missed a head kick, Dvořák punished him with a knockdown. Paradoxically, the Portuguese got the most out of it when he grabbed the kimura and the Czech fighter was seconds away from being knocked out or breaking his arm. A siren saved him.

He was checked by a doctor before the 2nd round started. Apparently limited by a hand injury, Dvořák didn’t interfere in the 2nd round, Kape hitting several short hooks and knees to his body. After a series of blows in the middle of the round, the Czech fell to the floor, was shaken and the opponent was not far from the end.

Dvořák was clearly losing on points and had to finish the duel before the limit in the 3rd round. Kape confidently and arrogantly lowered his hands and taunted with dance moves. Dvořák struck the rearguard several times, but it wasn’t enough to threaten the favourite. One referee awarded the turn to the Czech fighter, the others awarded all three to the Angolan native.

“I thought he was going to take out that kimura. He’s an animal, really badass. Hats off to David. I was patient, I didn’t go for the knockout. I listened to the coach, the body shots worked very well” Kape paid tribute to Dvořák.

“I’m the biggest name in flyweight, I’m going to win the title soon. I fight like a champion, I’m a champion” he added confidently. After the victory, he performed a significant goal celebration of the five-time best footballer on the planet, his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo.

Until recently he was an undertaker. Who is David Dvořák?

He has a university degree, in his youth he played extraleague chess. He was a hyperactive kid, so he signed up for a self-defense class in high school: “I trained for a year, but it was boring, no contact. Then I found a really brutal MMA video on the Internet. If my mom saw it, I’d it would immediately snap your mouth. MMA training was one level higher than chess. I went to check it out and I’ve been there before.”

He made his professional debut the day after his 18th birthday. He lost to later Octagon title challenger Philip Mack. Two years later, he also lost in a rematch, after seven games he had an unimpressive 4-3 record. The 165-centimeter-tall fighter then moved up to flyweight and has since gone 16-2.

He missed two years of his career due to injuries (between 2012-14). Until his move to the UFC (2020), he had no sponsors who would fully fund his training. As a construction engineer, he supervised the construction of the highway near Hradec Králové.

His father also took him to work as an undertaker. “A robot like any other,” says the wrestler nicknamed “Undertaker.” At work, he dug graves, lowered and buried coffins: “I’ve seen so much and buried so many people that I perceive death differently than most.”