Manel Kape recorded his fourth consecutive knockout by finishing Kyoji Horiguchi in the third round, now holding the UFC flyweight record with five knockouts in divisional history. Horiguchi controlled the first two rounds with movement and combinations but was caught after lingering in close range following a combination, allowing Kape to land a decisive counter. Kape switched from southpaw to orthodox just before the finishing sequence, catching Horiguchi with a right hand.
Manel Kape extended his knockout streak to four consecutive finishes by stopping Kyoji Horiguchi in the third round on June 21, 2026, and in doing so carved out sole possession of the UFC flyweight record with five knockouts in divisional history.
The 32-year-old Angolan, ranked sixth at flyweight and fighting out of Xtreme Couture, entered the night as one of the division's most dangerous strikers. At five-foot-five with a 68-inch reach, Kape lands 4.68 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate — numbers that place him among the sharpest finishers the 125-pound class has seen. Carrying a 23-7 record, he now holds arguably the most destructive resume in flyweight history when measured by stoppages alone.
Horiguchi, the 35-year-old Japanese veteran training out of American Top Team, brought an impressive 36-6 mark into the contest and looked every bit a threat through the first two rounds. His movement and combination work allowed him to control the pace, and his 1.67 takedowns per 15 minutes gave him a wrestling dimension that kept Kape honest. But a tendency to linger at close range after his own offensive flurries ultimately proved costly.
Late in the third, Horiguchi paused just a beat too long following a combination, and Kape seized the moment. Switching from his natural southpaw stance to orthodox, he uncorked a right hand that proved decisive, sending Horiguchi to the canvas and bringing the fight to a halt.
Why it matters
- Kape's fifth UFC flyweight knockout sets a new divisional record, reinforcing him as the premier finishing threat at 125 pounds.
- At ranked sixth, a fourth straight stoppage win significantly strengthens his case for a title eliminator or top-five matchup.
- Horiguchi, despite controlling early rounds, suffered a finish that raises questions about his position in the division's contender picture at age 35.
