UFC Fight Night 253 took place on March 2, 2025, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, featuring a flyweight bout between top-ranked fighters Manel Kape and Asu Almabayev, with Kape seeking a title shot.

Manel Kape defeated Asu Almabayev via TKO (strikes) at 2:16 of Round 3, dominating the fight with his striking superiority and ultimately stopping Almabayev in the third round

Cody Brundage defeated Julian Marquez via TKO (strikes) at 4:45 of Round 1, securing a quick victory with effective striking that led to a first-round stoppage

Nasrat Haqparast defeats Esteban Ribovics by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)  This closely contested bout saw Haqparast edge out Ribovics in a split decision that highlighted both fighters’ skills.

Hyder Amil defeats William Gomis by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)  Another tightly fought match where Amil managed to secure victory through strategic fighting and effective striking.

Sam Patterson defeats Danny Barlow by KO (strikes) at 3:10 of Round 1  Patterson continued his streak of first-round finishes with a knockout victory early in the fight.

Preliminary Card Results  Mario Pinto defeats Austen Lane by KO (right hook) at 0:39 of Round 2  Pinto made an impressive debut with a knockout victory that showcased his power.

Chepe Mariscal defeats Ricardo Ramos by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)  Mariscal dominated this matchup from start to finish, earning a clear unanimous decision win.

Danny Silva edged Lucas Almeida by split decision, while JJ Aldrich dominated Andrea Lee with a unanimous decision victory. Ramazan Temirov also secured a unanimous decision win over Charles Johnson

UFC Fight Night 253 delivered thrilling moments, with Manel Kape's standout performance against Asu Almabayev, ending his 17-fight winning streak and earning a potential championship opportunity