Manel Kape's long-elusive UFC title shot may finally be within reach ... that forced Beltran to mercifully step in and stop the action at 2:16 of Round 3.

"Starboy" started to really open up in the third round, and while Almabayev tried to call for a timeout when he appeared to get poked in the eye a second time the action ... a shot at the UFC ...

Tonight in the co-main event of UFC 313, we are going to see a rematch ... second round and he’s making it more of a brawl. Big shot from Gaethje and Fiziev responds with a body kick.