The UFC has officially announced that Manel Kape will face Kyoji Horiguchi in the main event of UFC Vegas 119, scheduled for June 20. This flyweight matchup will serve as the headliner for the Fight Night card. Both fighters bring significant experience to the octagon, with Kape known for his aggressive striking and Horiguchi as a former title challenger with a strong grappling base. The announcement confirms weeks of speculation about the pairing. Fans are now debating which fighter holds the advantage in this intriguing stylistic clash.
The UFC has officially confirmed a flyweight main event for UFC Vegas 119 on June 20, with Manel Kape set to face Kyoji Horiguchi in what promises to be one of the more compelling stylistic matchups of the year.
Kape, ranked sixth in the flyweight division, carries a professional record of 23-7-0 into the bout. The 32-year-old Angolan southpaw trains out of Xtreme Couture and is one of the more dangerous strikers in the 125-pound weight class. Standing five-foot-five with a 68-inch reach, he lands an impressive 4.68 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate — numbers that place him among the division's elite on the feet.
Horiguchi enters with a career record of 36-6-0, a ledger that reflects well over a decade of elite-level competition. The 35-year-old Japanese fighter, representing American Top Team, stands five-foot-four with a 63-inch reach and operates from an orthodox stance. His game is more multidimensional than Kape's, averaging 1.67 takedowns per 15 minutes — a significant threat for any opponent. He lands 3.64 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy, demonstrating a well-rounded approach that keeps opponents guessing.
Why it matters
- Kape holds a divisional ranking of sixth, meaning a strong performance could push him into title contention territory
- Horiguchi's grappling volume gives him a clear path to neutralizing Kape's elite striking output
- The striker-versus-wrestler dynamic sets up a genuinely competitive stylistic puzzle with clear stakes for both men in the flyweight rankings
