Manel Kape knocked out Kyoji Horiguchi in the third round, extending his knockout streak to four consecutive finishes and claiming the all-time record for knockouts in the UFC flyweight division with five. Horiguchi had dominated the first two rounds, repeatedly stunning Kape with his signature combination off a quick distance close, but a momentary lapse — hesitating after a double to land an extra left hook — allowed Kape to counter and finish him. The loss is a painful one for Horiguchi, who many believe still operates at a level deserving a title shot.
Manel "StarBoy" Kape knocked out Kyoji Horiguchi in the third round on June 21, 2026, extending his knockout streak to four consecutive finishes and setting the all-time record for knockouts in the UFC flyweight division with five.
The finish came despite Horiguchi controlling much of the early fight. The Japanese veteran had repeatedly stunned Kape in the first two rounds with his signature combination off a quick distance close, appearing well on his way to a dominant decision. The turning point arrived when Horiguchi hesitated after a double, choosing to reach for an extra left hook rather than reset, and Kape punished the lapse with a counter that ended the night.
Kape, 32, representing Angola and training out of Xtreme Couture, now holds a 23-7-0 record and sits at number six in the flyweight rankings. The southpaw has built his reputation on explosive striking, landing 4.68 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate — numbers that make brief openings like the one Horiguchi offered exceptionally dangerous.
Horiguchi, 35, entered the bout with a 36-6-0 record and carries one of the most decorated résumés in the flyweight division. Fighting out of American Top Team, the orthodox striker averages 3.64 significant strikes per minute and blends his stand-up with a takedown threat of 1.67 attempts per 15 minutes. The loss will sting particularly given the widespread belief that his performances warrant serious title contention.
Why it matters
- Kape now owns the UFC flyweight all-time knockout record outright with five, cementing his identity as the division's most dangerous finisher
- His four-fight KO streak positions him as an impossible-to-ignore title contender at 125 pounds despite his number-six ranking
- Horiguchi's defeat complicates his path back to a championship opportunity and raises fresh questions about where he fits in a crowded divisional picture
- The stylistic contrast — Kape's southpaw counter-striking versus Horiguchi's combination pressure — illustrated how a single moment of hesitation can erase two rounds of dominance at the elite level
