Manel Kape flattens Kyoji Horiguchi with vicious knockout to get his revenge in UFC Vegas 119 main event

Manel Kape finally secured his revenge against Kyoji Horiguchi, delivering a devastating third-round knockout at UFC Vegas 119 to capture the flyweight main event on Saturday at the UFC Meta APEX.

The rematch carried enormous significance. Nearly a decade earlier, in 2017, Horiguchi had submitted Kape in the third round during their first encounter, a result that had haunted the Xtreme Couture fighter ever since. On Saturday, Kape endured a sluggish start—Horiguchi's speed and striking combinations kept him honest through the early rounds—but patience paid off. Midway through round three, Kape landed a perfectly timed counter right hand that sent Horiguchi stumbling backward. Sensing the opening, Kape rushed forward and unleashed a barrage of punches, capped by a devastating shot that dropped Horiguchi flat to the canvas. Referee Herb Dean intervened at 2:42 of round three, bringing an end to the affair.

After the fight, Kape praised his opponent while reflecting on his journey. "Kyoji's an amazing fighter," he said, "maybe the best fighter I ever fought in my life." He credited his own resilience, noting his refusal to quit despite the adversity he faced both in competition and in life. "One thing about me, if I touch you one time, believe me, you're going to be dead," he added.

The victory marked Kape's fourth consecutive knockout win and solidified his position as a title contender in the UFC's flyweight division. Kape has now made clear his intentions to pursue a shot at the belt, having defeated top competition throughout his UFC tenure. The win over Horiguchi—a former champion in multiple promotions—should position him prominently in championship discussions moving forward.