UFC Fight Night: Victorious Manel Kape backs himself as Portugal's second biggest star after Real Madrid and Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo is no doubt the biggest sports star from Portugal, but Manel Kape - who was born in Angola but grew up in Portugal - believes he is second only to the Real Madrid great. Kape pulled out Ronaldo's iconic 'Siu' celebration following his UFC Fight Night victory over Brandon Royval, before he called out flyweight champion Joshua Van for a title showdown.

Kape: I'm the biggest star in Portugal after Ronaldo

Video credit: TNT Sports

Manel Kape believes he is Portugal's second-biggest sports star after footballing legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

The fighter's comments came after he pulled out Ronaldo's iconic 'Siu' celebration when he was announced the winner following his first-round knockout of Brandon Royval at UFC Fight Night on Saturday.

Ronaldo, currently playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, played over 400 times for Real Madrid during an illustrious football career, while he is also the record appearance holder for the Portugal national team with 226 caps.

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"It will be amazing, it will be amazing," Kape told the press when asked what it would be like to have a title fight in front of compatriot Ronaldo.

"I was born in Angola, I represent my country very, very well, always in my blood. I come from [my] mother of Africa, but I grew up in Portugal and I've played soccer for a long time, that's why I celebrate the way I celebrate.

"I never forgot my roots, where I was born, and I never forget where I grew up. This means something to me.

"In Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo is the biggest thing, and the second person there is Manel. Right now, in sport in Angola, I'm the big thing."

Kape inflicts first-round knockout on Royval with ‘beautiful right hand’

Video credit: TNT Sports

Following his dominant win over Royval, Kape moved closer to a flyweight title shot.

After his latest triumph, he took the opportunity to call out his next potential opponent, flyweight champion Joshua Van.

"Now we're talking. Joshua Van, you have my belt," he said during his in-ring interview with Michael Bisping.

"If I didn't break my foot in July, I would be the champion right now. Listen very well, I'm here, your daddy. Be ready.

"Let's fight in Houston in February, just sign the contract. Houston is my city, my first fight in UFC and my first win was there.

"I'm going to get there, just be ready. Because Manel starboy is here, to hunt, to be the champion, nobody can deny."

Van, 24, is the flyweight champion after he overcame Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 323 last week, who suffered an arm injury after just 26 seconds when he was tripped to the mat.

Van is the second-youngest UFC champion of all time, behind only Jon Jones, and completed one of the fastest UFC championship runs in MMA history.

Despite Kape's desperation for a title shot, Tatsuro Taira might be the next logical contender to challenge Van for his flyweight belt.

Taira became the first fighter ever to knock out two-time champion Brandon Moreno for the biggest win of his career earlier this month.

'You have my belt' - Kape calls out flyweight champion Van

Video credit: TNT Sports

"He looked great tonight," Van said of Taira last week.

"Like I said, I do want to give the champ, I mean, I am the champ now, but I do want to give Pantoja a rematch for sure, but like I said, whatever the UFC wants.

"Whatever it is, they’ve got my number."

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