Manel Kape defeated Kyoji Horiguchi by third-round TKO, securing his fourth consecutive knockout in the UFC flyweight division and setting the all-time record for knockouts in the division's history with five. Horiguchi controlled the first two rounds, rocking Kape with a leaping left hook, but was caught and finished after pausing momentarily following a combination in the third. Kape now holds sole possession of the flyweight KO record, with one additional stoppage not counted in the official tally due to a weight miss.
Manel Kape cemented his status as the most prolific knockout artist in UFC flyweight history on June 21, stopping Kyoji Horiguchi by third-round TKO to record his fourth consecutive finish by knockout in the division.
The finish was not without drama. Horiguchi controlled the opening two rounds and at one point rocked Kape with a leaping left hook, appearing to have the Angolan in trouble. But a combination in the third round caused Horiguchi to pause momentarily, and Kape seized on that hesitation to close the show. The victory gives Kape five official knockout wins in the UFC flyweight division, the most in the division's history, with a sixth stoppage not included in the official tally due to a weight miss.
Kape, 32, fights out of Xtreme Couture and enters the record books ranked sixth at flyweight. The southpaw carries a 23-7 record and lands an impressive 4.68 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, making him one of the sharpest offensive weapons the division has seen. Standing five-foot-five with a 68-inch reach, he has built his reputation almost entirely on his finishing power.
Horiguchi, 35, came in with a formidable 36-6 record representing American Top Team and Japan. The orthodox fighter averages 3.64 significant strikes per minute and generates consistent pressure through takedowns at a rate of 1.67 per fifteen minutes. His experience and early-round control made him a credible threat, and the scorecards through two rounds reflected that, but Kape's one-punch danger proved decisive when the opening arrived.
Why it matters
- Kape now holds sole possession of the all-time UFC flyweight knockout record with five official stoppages
- Four consecutive UFC knockouts puts him firmly in title contention conversations at 125 pounds
- The matchup illustrated the tension between Horiguchi's well-rounded pressure style and Kape's elite finishing power, with a single moment proving the difference
