Manel Kape has announced himself as the UFC’s premier flyweight contender in the most emphatic fashion possible. The Angolan-Portuguese striker extended his Manel Kape knockout streak to four with a brutal third-round finish of Kyoji Horiguchi at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas, cementing his place at the very top of the 125-pound division.
Manel Kape Knockout Streak: How the Fight Unfolded
For two rounds, this was a genuinely competitive scrap. Horiguchi (36-7), who trains out of American Top Team in Florida, looked sharp early and actually rocked Kape in the second round. However, the entire contest pivoted on a single right hand in the centre of the Octagon. Kape (24-7) wobbled the Japanese veteran with that shot, then followed up with a devastating uppercut as Horiguchi desperately tried to recover on all fours. Referee Herb Dean waved it off at 2:42 of round three. Horiguchi protested the stoppage, though he visibly went limp from that second blow — Dean had seen enough, and rightly so.
Moreover, the victory carried personal weight. Back in 2017, Horiguchi submitted Kape in a bantamweight contest under the RIZIN banner in Japan. Saturday night settled that score in style. Kape was gracious in victory, acknowledging his rival’s influence: “Horiguchi is an amazing fighter, the best fighter I’ve ever fought in my life. What I’ve become is because of him. In 2017, I wanted to be like him. If I’m here in this position, it’s because of Kyoji.”
What’s Next for Kape and the Flyweight Title Picture?
The win moves Kape’s UFC record to 8-2 — a remarkable turnaround for a fighter who lost his first two promotional appearances after a much-hyped debut in 2021, and has since dealt with cancelled bouts and a weight miss along the way. Now 32, he’s finally delivered on the promise everyone saw in him. His UFC profile tells the story of perseverance paying off.
As for title contention, there’s one complication. Champion Joshua Van der Linden, just 24 years old, could instead face a rematch with former champion Alexandre Pantoja before Kape gets his shot. Van claimed the belt from Pantoja in December under dramatic circumstances — Pantoja dislocated his elbow after an awkward fall following a caught kick attempt. Both men have expressed interest in running it back. That rematch clause could delay Kape’s coronation moment. Nevertheless, after four consecutive knockouts, nobody in that division wants to see his name on their fight card. “If I touch you one time,” Kape warned, “believe me, you’re going to be dead.”