Manel Kape defeated Kyoji Horiguchi by knockout in the third round, extending his finishing streak to four consecutive knockouts. Horiguchi controlled the opening two rounds with his speed and combination punching, but a momentary lapse in the third — lingering inside to add an extra left hook rather than resetting — allowed Kape to counter and finish the fight. The victory gives Kape the most knockouts in UFC flyweight history at five, and he is now considered a prime title contender.
Manel Kape extended his finishing streak to four consecutive knockouts on June 21, 2026, stopping Kyoji Horiguchi in the third round to claim the most knockouts in UFC flyweight history.
Kape, now 23-7-0, has built one of the most dangerous knockout reputations in the 125-pound division. The 32-year-old from Angola, fighting out of Xtreme Couture, brings a relentless southpaw offense that averages 4.68 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate — numbers that reflect both his volume and his precision. Ranked sixth in the flyweight division heading into the bout, that standing seems certain to rise. His fifth UFC flyweight knockout now stands alone as a divisional record.
Horiguchi, the veteran Japanese contender fighting out of American Top Team, entered the fight with a 36-6-0 record and a reputation as one of the most technically refined strikeers in flyweight history. The 35-year-old used his speed and combination punching to control the first two rounds, dictating the pace with the sharper output early. A 63-inch reach, the shortest in the matchup, did not prevent him from finding success at close range — but it ultimately contributed to his undoing. Horiguchi lingered inside after landing a left hook in the third rather than resetting, and Kape countered cleanly to end the fight.
Why it matters
- Kape's fifth UFC flyweight KO is a divisional record, separating him from the rest of the contender pack
- Four straight finishes by knockout makes him the most dangerous striker at 125 pounds entering any title conversation
- A style matchup between Horiguchi's speed-based combination punching and Kape's counter power proved decisive once Horiguchi broke his own reset discipline
- At 32, Kape arrives at peak contender status with the finishing credentials to demand a title shot
