Manel Kape isn’t interested in hearing about what happened the last time he fought Kyoji Horiguchi. As far as the flyweight contender is concerned, the fearless kid who stepped into the ring years ago has evolved into a completely different fighter with the tools, experience, and confidence to finally flip the script.
Now, with a potential title shot on the line, Kape says he’ll show exactly why he’s become one of the UFC’s most dangerous flyweights when he meets Horiguchi in the main event of UFC Vegas 119 on Saturday night.
“He’s a good fighter. Back in (that) time I didn’t have (any) resources, the structure, what I have right now. I only was the fearless young kid. I was a Ferrari in the wrong garage,” Kape told reporters on Wednesday.
“Right now I have everything (that) I dreamed to have, what I need to be a better athlete and to face him. One thing I can tell right now, I’m the side A, and he’s the side B.”
While Kape acknowledged the unique challenges Horiguchi brings to the table, he believes the matchup is compelling because both men possess elite speed and timing. The difference, in Kape’s mind, is that he also carries the kind of power that can change a fight in an instant.
“He posses the speed, the timing. He has unique style, he’s a great athlete. I posses the power, I possess the timing, and I possess the speed as well. It’s going to be interesting (fight),” he said.
Kape isn’t lacking confidence heading into this one. While he made it clear he has plenty of respect for Horiguchi and isn’t taking him lightly, the Angolan star believes his skill set is on another level and plans to prove exactly that when they meet inside the Octagon.
“I can do whatever I want inside the cage. I’m very confident in my abilities and my skills. I don’t underestimate him, never anyone, but I’m a different boy,” he said.
Kape knows exactly what’s at stake, but he isn’t interested in getting caught up in title talk before handling business against Horiguchi. For the flyweight contender, any conversation about championship opportunities can wait until after he’s taken care of the former champion on Saturday night.
“To be honest I’m not thinking about this. My focus is on Kyoji totally. 100% of my focus is on Kyoji Horiguchi,” said Kape.
“The title show is another conversation after the fight. Saturday night and then we can talk about the picture of the belt.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Manel Kape above. He faces Kyoji Horiguchi at UFC Vegas 119 on Saturday night.
