Manel Kape
Prodigio
Angola
Gets revenge on Kyoji Horiguchi
Kape defeated Kyoji Horiguchi via TKO (punches) at 2:42 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
As always, it's not how you start, but how you finish. Kape essentially no-showed this fight for 12-plus minutes. Known for his massive power, he could get nothing going on the feet, perhaps because he was worried about Horiguchi constantly shooting on him. Manel gave up a pair of takedowns and 4:00 worth of control time in the brief bout, but the power finally revealed itself midway through Round 3. Kape clipped Horiguchi with one huge hook to the side of the head which stumbled his opponent. He eventually followed him to the mat and unloaded with one vicious follow-up shot which closed the show. A winner of four in a row and 8-1 in his past nine fights, Kape is almost certainly going to get a shot at the UFC Flyweight Championship. He's made it clear he's willing to sit on the sidelines and wait his turn if the UFC wishes to run back a rematch between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja first.
As always, it's not how you start, but how you finish. Kape essentially no-showed this fight for 12-plus minutes. Known for his massive power, he could get nothing going on the feet, perhaps because he was worried about Horiguchi constantly shooting on him. Manel gave up a pair of takedowns and 4:00 worth of control time in the brief bout, but the power finally revealed itself midway through Round 3. Kape clipped Horiguchi with one huge hook to the side of the head which stumbled his opponent. He eventually followed him to the mat and unloaded with one vicious follow-up shot which closed the show. A winner of four in a row and 8-1 in his past nine fights, Kape is almost certainly going to get a shot at the UFC Flyweight Championship. He's made it clear he's willing to sit on the sidelines and wait his turn if the UFC wishes to run back a rematch between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja first.
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Will rematch Horiguchi
Kape will compete against fellow flyweight Kyoji Horiguchi in a five-round fight to main event UFC Vegas 119 on June 20, MMA Junkie reports.
ANALYSIS
Before the UFC signed both Kape and Horiguchi, both fought each other at bantamweight in Rizin, with the latter coming out on top via submission. In their next fight approximately nine years later, Kape will look to redeem himself and improve his winning streak to four. For the other three, Kape finished Bruno Gustavo da Silva, Asu Almabayev and Brandon Royval via KO/TKO.
Before the UFC signed both Kape and Horiguchi, both fought each other at bantamweight in Rizin, with the latter coming out on top via submission. In their next fight approximately nine years later, Kape will look to redeem himself and improve his winning streak to four. For the other three, Kape finished Bruno Gustavo da Silva, Asu Almabayev and Brandon Royval via KO/TKO.
Ends 2025 with statement in
Kape defeated Brandon Royval via KO (punches) at 3:18 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas
ANALYSIS
It may not happen immediately, but Kape is worthy of a shot at the UFC Flyweight Championship after that performance. Yes, he entered as a -275 favorite, and this was a fight most thought he would win, but he was going up against an opponent in Royval with legendary durability who has had a ton of success against the best the 125-pound division has to offer. Kape unloaded with one huge right hand which essentially turned Royval's lights out on the spot. A handful of follow-up shots, and he was done for good. The statement win would go on to earn him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. It was a perfectly reasonable stoppage from referee Herb Dean. Kape is a worthy challenger, but the top of the flyweight division is crowded. Joshua Van won the belt last week against Alexandre Pantoja after a freak injury in their bout suffered by the latter. Then you have Tatsuro Taira lurking, as well. Depending on the health of Pantoja, there's three guys each with a legitimate claim to be next in line as the calendar turns to 2026.
It may not happen immediately, but Kape is worthy of a shot at the UFC Flyweight Championship after that performance. Yes, he entered as a -275 favorite, and this was a fight most thought he would win, but he was going up against an opponent in Royval with legendary durability who has had a ton of success against the best the 125-pound division has to offer. Kape unloaded with one huge right hand which essentially turned Royval's lights out on the spot. A handful of follow-up shots, and he was done for good. The statement win would go on to earn him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. It was a perfectly reasonable stoppage from referee Herb Dean. Kape is a worthy challenger, but the top of the flyweight division is crowded. Joshua Van won the belt last week against Alexandre Pantoja after a freak injury in their bout suffered by the latter. Then you have Tatsuro Taira lurking, as well. Depending on the health of Pantoja, there's three guys each with a legitimate claim to be next in line as the calendar turns to 2026.
Slated for UFV Vegas main event
Kape will take on Brandon Royval in a flyweight bout at UFC Vegas 112 on Dec. 13, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
In his last time in the Octagon, Kape took care of Asu Almabayev in the third round. That was his second straight win and his 6th overall in the UFC. Now, he'll get a main event fight to close out 2025 against Royval, who will be looking for a bounce-back win as he lost his last bout. The fighters have the same wingspan, but Kape gives up four inches of height to his opponent.
In his last time in the Octagon, Kape took care of Asu Almabayev in the third round. That was his second straight win and his 6th overall in the UFC. Now, he'll get a main event fight to close out 2025 against Royval, who will be looking for a bounce-back win as he lost his last bout. The fighters have the same wingspan, but Kape gives up four inches of height to his opponent.
Fractures foot, out for UFC 317
Kape is no longer scheduled to face Brandon Royval in a flyweight fight at UFC 317 in Las Vegas on June 28 after fracturing his right foot during a recent training session, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Kape posted on social media Monday that he will undergo surgery to address the injury. He's not expected to compete again until 2026. The UFC has tapped Joshua Van to replace Kape on the June 28 card.
Kape posted on social media Monday that he will undergo surgery to address the injury. He's not expected to compete again until 2026. The UFC has tapped Joshua Van to replace Kape on the June 28 card.
Rebooked versus Royval
Kape will fight Brandon Royval at UFC 317 in Las Vegas on June 28, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Kape was initially booked versus Royval for UFC Vegas 103, but Royval was taken off the fight for undisclosed reasons. Kape ended up fighting Asu Almabayev and secured a controversial TKO win on March 1. He will now set his sights on Royval again for a fight at the end of June.
Kape was initially booked versus Royval for UFC Vegas 103, but Royval was taken off the fight for undisclosed reasons. Kape ended up fighting Asu Almabayev and secured a controversial TKO win on March 1. He will now set his sights on Royval again for a fight at the end of June.