Since returning to the UFC last year, Japan’s Kyoji Horiguchi has reinserted himself into the flyweight title conversation, and on Saturday looked to make the next step in a rematch with fellow contender Manel Kape.
Kape and Horiguchi had first met in Japan’s RIZIN prior to COVID, with Horiguchi coming away with the victory over “Starboy.” With Kape now holding the #2 ranking in the UFC’s flyweight division, a second win over the Angolan fighter might just clear the path to the belt for Horiguchi – dependent on when teammate Alexandre Pantoja was ready to return from injury at least.
The timetable will be the difference between champ Joshua Van fighting the winner of Kape vs. Horiguchi later this year, or getting the rematch with Pantoja next. Either way, UFC Vegas 119 was key in the title aspirations for both headliners.
Horiguchi opened Saturday’s rematch with a leg kick, then had a second kicking attack caught and was nearly dumped. Horiguchi scrambled free and reset, going back to the well with his kicks, which Kape attempted to answer. Kape landed a couple then nearly caught another Horiguchi kick. Moments later, it was Manel Kape getting the better of the pair’s first real exchange, while Horiguchi followed that with an overhand right.
Kape went on the offensive next, but was hit by a counter left by Horiguchi. Another reset was followed by a kick from Kape, who fanned on his next punch then nearly found himself tripped up by a leg kick. Horiguchi changed levels with 90 seconds left in the round, but Kape was successful in fighting off the takedown attempt. Horiguchi landed a solid kick to the body just ahead of the 30 second mark, and this time, it landed with too much impact for Kape to catch. A late takedown was there for Horiguchi, and he finished the round on top.
Round two saw another Horiguchi kick land early, with Manel falling short on a sloppy jumping attack immediately after. A left hand landed for Kyoji, and Kape appeared to feel it. Another left hand was there for Horiguchi, off an inside kick, and Kape went down, though he was more pushed over than knocked down. Either way, the result was the same: Kyoji Horiguchi had top position with over three minutes still on the clock.
With his corner directing him, Horiguchi fired an elbow and landed a few solid shots on Kape, who was will away from the fence. Kape had his guard closed, and didn’t seem capable of creating a scramble, instead accepting the position despite Horiguchi still slipping elbows through. In the final minute, Horiguchi slipped one leg through Kape’s guard, putting him in a better position to land ground n’ pound.
With Horiguchi potentially up 20-18 after two, Kape came out hot to start round three, looking to get in the Japanese star’s face. Horiguchi was quick on his feet, defended well, and eventually countered with a few solid shots of his own, getting back in the driver’s seat.
Two minutes in, Kape landed a leg kick, but Horiguchi checked it, and Manel dropped to the mat briefly. He’d get back up, and moments later, he cracked Horiguchi with a right hand, hurting him! Kyoji, winning the fight to that point, wound up on his knees, Kape landing bombs on him. The ref gave him a chance, but Horiguchi couldn’t escape, and a Kape uppercut, thrown from the back, came underneath and caught Horiguchi on the chin, face planting him. That was all she wrote, and Manel Kape had his revenge, and quite possibly a title shot.
Official Result: Manel Kape def. Kyoji Horiguchi by TKO, Round 3, 2:42
