The UFC has officially announced that Manel Kape will face Kyoji Horiguchi in the main event of UFC Vegas 119 on June 21. This flyweight clash tops the card and marks Horiguchi's return to the UFC after years competing in other promotions. Additionally, Ion Cutelaba versus Navajo Stirling has been confirmed for the same event. The announcement follows earlier reports from the vestnik_mma channel. Full card details are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
The UFC has officially booked Manel Kape against Kyoji Horiguchi as the main event of UFC Vegas 119, scheduled for June 21. The flyweight matchup also marks Horiguchi's return to the promotion after a prolonged stint competing elsewhere.
Kape, ranked sixth in the flyweight division, carries a 23-7 record into the bout. The 32-year-old Angolan, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, is one of the more prolific strikers in the weight class, landing 4.68 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate. Fighting out of a southpaw stance and standing five-foot-five with a 68-inch reach, he has built a reputation as a finisher with genuine knockout power.
Horiguchi steps back into the Octagon with a 36-6 record and considerable experience at the highest levels of the sport. The 35-year-old Japanese fighter, now part of American Top Team, is an orthodox striker who averages 3.64 significant strikes per minute and mixes in a meaningful grappling threat, averaging 1.67 takedowns per 15 minutes. Standing five-foot-four with a 63-inch reach, he is compact and technically refined, and his return to the UFC is among the more notable storylines on the card.
Why it matters
- A Kape victory could push the sixth-ranked flyweight deeper into title contention
- Horiguchi's return gives the flyweight division a high-profile name with a proven elite-level track record
- The striking styles contrast with Kape's volume and southpaw angle against Horiguchi's wrestling-blended orthodox approach
Also confirmed for UFC Vegas 119 is Ion Cutelaba versus Navajo Stirling. The unbeaten Stirling, a 28-year-old from New Zealand training at City Kickboxing, enters at 10-0 with an imposing physical frame — six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach — and leads all fighters in this announcement with 6.24 significant strikes landed per minute at 54 percent accuracy. Full card details are expected in the coming weeks.
