Kape knocks out Horiguchi again, calls for Joshua Van title fight

Manel Kape turned a rematch that once went against him into a cleaner statement of intent, stopping Kyoji Horiguchi by third-round knockout and forcing the UFC flyweight title conversation to move his way. At Meta APEX in Las Vegas, UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Horiguchi ended with ESPN listing the finish at 2:42 of round 3, a result that did more than settle a rivalry. It strengthened Kape’s claim that he belongs at the front of the line.

The matchup carried unusual weight because the two men had already shared a history in Rizin. Kape had lost to Horiguchi by arm-triangle submission on Dec. 30, 2017, at Rizin World Grand Prix 2017 Final Round, and this second meeting offered a direct test of whether that result still defined the matchup. Instead, Kape erased the old outcome with force, while Horiguchi, who entered ranked No. 5 at flyweight, saw a run of back-to-back victories over Tagir Ulanbekov and Amir Albazi halted by a former rival ranked No. 2.

The knockout also sharpened the debate around matchmaking at 125 pounds. UFC had framed Horiguchi as a former elite flyweight who had climbed back into contention after his return to the promotion, making the main event a meaningful crossroads fight for both men. Kape used the stage to argue that he had cleared it decisively, and his immediate call for a title fight against Joshua Van made the message plain: he no longer wanted another eliminator.

Van is the reigning UFC flyweight champion, having stopped Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 323 on Dec. 6, 2025, before retaining the belt against Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026. Kape’s demand therefore landed on the division’s highest prize, not a placeholder bout, and the timing fit the shape of his résumé. ESPN lists him at 22-7 overall with 14 knockout or technical knockout victories, a record that matches the power he showed again in Las Vegas.

For Kape, the significance of the win went beyond revenge. UFC had previously described him as riding a four-fight win streak entering the bout, and the Horiguchi finish extended that momentum in the most convincing way possible. Whether the knockout is remembered as the moment Kape became a true top-tier threat or as the final step before a title shot, the line now points directly at Joshua Van.