Kyoji Horiguchi has spoken candidly about his knockout defeat to Manel Kape at UFC Vegas 119, describing the finish as a spectacular stoppage. The comments come as Horiguchi takes stock of his performance following the setback.
Kyoji Horiguchi has opened up about the knockout loss he suffered to Manel Kape at UFC Vegas 119, acknowledging that the finish was a spectacular stoppage as he reflects on the defeat.
Horiguchi, 35, entered the bout as one of the more accomplished flyweights on the roster. The Japanese fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, carries a professional record of 36 wins and 6 losses. An orthodox stance technician who stands five-foot-four with a 63-inch reach, Horiguchi averages 3.64 significant strikes per minute and lands at a 47 percent accuracy rate. He also brings a meaningful wrestling element to his game, averaging 1.67 takedowns per 15 minutes — a threat that makes him dangerous across multiple phases of a fight.
Standing across from him was Manel Kape, the Angolan southpaw ranked sixth in the flyweight division. Kape, 32, fights out of Xtreme Couture and holds a record of 23-7. At five-foot-five with a 68-inch reach, "StarBoy" is one of the division's most prolific strikers, landing 4.68 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 55 percent accuracy. That output and efficiency made him a legitimate finishing threat entering the contest, and he delivered on that billing against Horiguchi.
Why it matters
- Kape's win at No. 6 in the flyweight rankings strengthens his case for a higher-profile assignment at 125 pounds.
- The loss drops Horiguchi to 36-6 and raises questions about where he fits in the divisional picture going forward.
- The stylistic contrast — Kape's high-volume striking against Horiguchi's takedown-oriented game — made the finish a notable result, with Kape's accuracy proving decisive.
Horiguchi's candid acknowledgment of the stoppage suggests he is processing the setback with a clear head, though the path back toward divisional relevance at 35 years old will require careful consideration of his next steps.
