The rematch between Manel Kape and Kyoji Horiguchi headlined UFC Fight Night 279 on June 20, 2026, at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. Nearly nine years after Horiguchi submitted Kape in the RIZIN World Grand Prix, the two elite flyweights met again with a potential UFC title shot on the line.
Round 1
The opening five minutes were fought at a blistering pace. Horiguchi immediately established his trademark karate stance, darting in and out with quick straight lefts and calf kicks while refusing to remain stationary. Kape patiently stalked from the center, looking to counter with explosive hooks whenever Horiguchi entered the pocket.
Horiguchi’s speed gave him the early advantage. He repeatedly beat Kape to the punch with fast combinations and mixed in a well-timed takedown midway through the round. Although Kape returned to his feet quickly, Horiguchi controlled the tempo with constant movement, forcing the powerful striker to chase rather than dictate exchanges. Kape landed several heavy body shots late in the round, reminding everyone of his fight-ending power, but Horiguchi appeared to edge the opening frame through activity and cage control.
Round 2
Kape made important adjustments in the second round. Instead of loading up on single punches, he began cutting off the cage and attacking Horiguchi’s legs with hard calf kicks. The damage gradually slowed the Japanese veteran’s lateral movement.
Horiguchi still found success with crisp one-two combinations and occasional clinch entries, but Kape’s counters became increasingly dangerous. A crushing right hand midway through the round snapped Horiguchi’s head back and drew a roar from the crowd. Moments later, another left hook forced Horiguchi to retreat for the first time in the fight.
The remainder of the round featured intense exchanges in the center of the Octagon. Horiguchi continued to score with volume, but Kape’s punches carried noticeably more impact. Momentum had begun to swing as the challenger from Angola and Portugal found his timing.
Round 3
Knowing the fight remained competitive, both men increased the urgency.
Horiguchi opened aggressively, landing combinations while attempting to mix in level changes to keep Kape guessing. Kape stayed composed, maintaining pressure without overcommitting. Every exchange became increasingly dangerous as both flyweights stood their ground.
The decisive moment arrived just over two minutes into the round. As Horiguchi stepped inside behind a combination, Kape perfectly anticipated the entry and fired a devastating counter uppercut that landed flush. The impact instantly stunned Horiguchi, sending him reeling backward.
Sensing the finish, Kape exploded with a barrage of accurate punches against the fence. Horiguchi attempted to cover up but could no longer intelligently defend himself as Kape unleashed relentless combinations. Referee Herb Dean stepped between them at 2:42 of Round 3, awarding Kape the TKO victory.
Result: Manel Kape def. Kyoji Horiguchi via TKO (punches), Round 3, 2:42.
The victory completed Kape’s long-awaited revenge after his 2017 submission loss to Horiguchi. It also marked his fourth consecutive knockout victory and established a new UFC flyweight record with his sixth knockout inside the promotion, firmly placing him among the leading contenders for the UFC flyweight championship.