Manel Kape defeated Kyoji Horiguchi by knockout in the third round, extending his finishing streak to four consecutive knockouts in the flyweight division and setting a UFC record of five knockouts in the weight class. Horiguchi had controlled the first two rounds with sharp combination work and movement, but was stopped after pausing to throw an extra left hook rather than disengaging following his trademark combination. The loss ends a compelling comeback attempt by Horiguchi, who had dropped Kape four times in their first meeting nearly nine years ago.
Manel Kape extended his knockout streak to four consecutive finishes on June 21, stopping Kyoji Horiguchi in the third round of their flyweight rematch to set a UFC record of five knockouts in the 125-pound division.
Kape, 32, entered the contest ranked sixth in the flyweight division and carrying serious momentum. The Angolan southpaw out of Xtreme Couture now sits at 23-7 and has established himself as one of the most dangerous finishers in the weight class, landing significant strikes at a rate of 4.68 per minute with an impressive 55 percent striking accuracy. His five UFC flyweight knockouts stand alone in the record books.
Horiguchi, 35, had looked sharp through the first two rounds, using his trademark combination work and ring movement to control the pace. The Japanese veteran, fighting out of American Top Team, carries a 36-6 record built on a well-rounded game that includes 1.67 takedown attempts per 15 minutes. But a momentary lapse in the third round proved costly. Rather than disengaging after his signature combination, Horiguchi paused to throw an extra left hook and was stopped as a result.
The loss is a painful footnote to what had been a compelling comeback story. Nearly nine years ago, Horiguchi dominated their first meeting, dropping Kape four times in a fight that seemed to define the limits of Kape's ceiling. Saturday's finish rewrote that narrative entirely.
Why it matters
- Kape's record five UFC flyweight knockouts make him the division's most prolific finisher by that metric
- A win streak of four consecutive KOs pushes him firmly into title contention at 125 pounds
- The rematch result reverses a lopsided first meeting, adding weight to Kape's case for a top-five ranking or higher
- Horiguchi, despite controlling two rounds, now faces a setback that complicates his own divisional positioning
