In a disappointing turn of events, Raulian Paiva Kape has failed to meet the weight requirement for his anticipated rematch against Matheus Nicolau at UFC Vegas 84. This marks the second time that Kape has missed weight for a flyweight bout, leaving fans disappointed and forcing the cancellation of the highly-anticipated rematch.

Kape cited a recent illness caused by a virus that swept through Las Vegas two weeks ago as the primary reason for his inability to make weight. In a social media post, Kape explained that he had fallen ill and had to stay out of training for five days, requiring a course of antibiotics to recover. Unfortunately, several of his training partners were also affected by the same illness.

Kape's coaches and manager deemed it best for him to cancel the fight given his compromised physical state. However, Kape made the decision to move forward and not withdraw from the bout. Despite his determination, Nicolau refused to accept the fight or the agreed-upon purse.

This is not the first time Kape has faced weight-related issues, as he had five fights canceled last year, including one where his opponent was significantly over the weight limit. Nonetheless, Kape has consistently demonstrated his willingness to compete, even when faced with such hurdles.

As a result of Kape's failure to make weight, the UFC has been forced to make changes to the event's lineup. The lightweight bout between Jim Miller and Gabriel Benitez has been upgraded to the co-main event of UFC Vegas 84, which will be headlined by a light heavyweight title rematch between Johnny Walker and Magomed Ankalaev. The event will take place at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas and will be televised on ESPN+.

The disappointments surrounding Kape's inability to make weight are certainly felt by fans and organizers alike. However, UFC fans can still look forward to an exciting evening of fights with the new co-main event between Miller and Benitez, as well as the highly anticipated light heavyweight title rematch.