Mattheus Nicolau vs Manel Kape Odds, AI Picks, and AI Prediction
On the first card of 2024, flyweight contenders Mattheus Nicolau and Manel Kape will meet in the co-main event in a massive fight for the future of the flyweight division this year. These two UFC fighters are both so much fun to watch and they belong on top of the division.
We will take a close look at this Nicolau vs Kape bout and break down the odds, analytics, and film on both men. Then you will get a free Nicolau vs Kape prediction ahead of placing any of your bets on this weekend’s MMA betting slate.
Game Information
| MATTHEUS NICOLAU vs MANEL KAPE |
| Location of the Game: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada, United State |
| Date and Time: January 13, 2024 – 7 PM ET main card start |
| Reason: UFC Friday Night Flyweight Bout |
| How to watch: ESPN+ |
AI Betting Picks
| ODDS | AI BETTING PICKS |
| OVER/UNDER | Under 2.5 rounds (+145) |
| MONEYLINE | Manel Kape (-255) |
Because of the recent Manel Kape results in the octagon and his loud confidence that beams off of him as of late, the official Nicolau vs Kape prediction is that Kape will get the job done in the second round with a TKO.
As a wise man once said, “When it’s a man’s time, it’s a man’s time,” and this seems like Kape’s time. He is confident, sharp, and in his prime. His first two UFC fights were losses to the current champion and Nicolau–since then he has learned a lot and seemingly has put his skills together to be able to win fights.
We couldn’t get to this Nicolau vs Kape prediction without breaking down the film, though. The numbers weren’t telling the total story, but once you see how Kape has been looking it will give you confidence in this pick.
The under 2.5 rounds is a good play too because this fight is going to be super fast-paced from the opening exchange. It will probably end inside the distance no matter who gets their hand raised, Kape is just the one with a better opportunity with his skill set.
Making UFC picks on UFC events like this will always be the most difficult thing to do in sports betting, but hopefully, this breakdown gives you some knowledge on how to pick fights and bet on them in the future.
Nicolau vs Kape Prediction Odds
| FIGHTER | MONEYLINE | OVER/UNDER |
| MATTHEUS NICOLAU | +205 | O 2.5 |
| MANEL KAPE | -255 | U 2.5 |
Mattheus Nicolau’s odds have him coming in as the +215 underdog even though he beat Kape in a fight back in 2021 via split decision. Nicolau is also +675 to win inside the distance, something he has done only once during his UFC career.
Kape is the -255 betting underdog and is +150 to win inside the distance, according to UFC odds. This means that oddsmakers must have a lot of high praise for how Kape is performing lately and think he has a good chance of finishing this fight.
The over/under is at 2.5 rounds with the ‘over’ going at -175. There are plenty of other prop bets and alternate lines to look through at any major sportsbook.
Fight week
— マネル・ケイプ Manel Kape (@ManelKape) January 8, 2024
Betting Preview
Mattheus Nicolau
Nicolau is a Brazilian MMA fighter with a professional record of 19-3-1 with 5 wins by TKO/KO and 5 wins by submission so far. He is 31 years old and coming off a loss to the most recent title challenger, Brandon Royval. He’s at 5’6” and has a 66” reach.
Nicolau averages 3.66 significant strikes landed per minute and 3.14 significant strikes absorbed per minute in the octagon. He also has an impressive 66% striking defensive rate, which, compared to his peers, is pretty high. Nicolau rounds out his game with a solid wrestling attack; averaging 1.48 takedowns per 15 minutes and a 93% takedown defense.
Manel Kape
Kape is a professional MMA fighter with a record of 19-6 with 11 TKO/KO victories and 5 submissions in his career. He’s 30 years old and was born in Angola and now mainly trains in Thailand. He is at 5’5” and has a 68” reach while fighting out of the southpaw stance.
Kape averages 5.12 significant strikes landed per minute and 4.51 significant strikes absorbed per minute. Grappling isn’t his primary skill set, but he still averages 0.65 takedowns per 15 minutes and has a solid 77% takedown defense.
Ready to take the Nicolau vs Kape Prediction Odds for your sports betting to the next level with AI? Follow us @SportBettingAI on X and keep reading for continuous AI-powered betting picks.
