Kape topples Horiguchi for fourth straight knockout

It is taken a bit longer than anticipated, however Manel Kape has seemingly established himself because the No. 1 flyweight contender within the UFC.

Kape (24-7) picked up his fourth knockout in a row on Saturday in a third-round end of Japan’s Kyoji Horiguchi (36-7) at UFC Combat Night time in Las Vegas. The knockout got here on the 2:42 mark. Kape wobbled Horiguchi with a proper hand and adopted with an uppercut moments later, as Horiguchi tried to get better on all fours. Horiguchi protested the stoppage to referee Herb Dean, however he did seem to momentarily go limp from the second shot.

With the victory, Kape avenged a submission loss to Horiguchi from 2017, once they met in a bantamweight contest within the Japanese promotion RIZIN.

“Horiguchi is a tremendous fighter, the very best fighter I’ve ever fought in my life,” Kape stated. “What I’ve turn into is due to him. In 2017, I needed to be like him. If I am right here on this place, it is due to Kyoji.”

The place Kape referred to is probably going the UFC’s No. 1 flyweight contender. The victory improved his UFC report to 8-2. He made his promotional debut underneath excessive expectations in 2021 however misplaced his first two appearances and has been plagued at occasions by canceled bouts and one latest weight miss.

When the 32-year-old veteran is on, nevertheless, he is one of the crucial harmful fighters at 125 kilos. Horiguchi, who trains at American High Crew in Florida, appeared good within the opening two rounds and even shocked Kape within the second spherical. Your entire struggle turned on one proper hand from Kape within the heart of the Octagon, although. For Horiguchi, 35, it was his fourth loss by knockout.

“I by no means surrender,” Kape stated. “I do know adversity. I knew he was going to catch me in some unspecified time in the future. I’ve felt his palms earlier than. One factor about me, if I contact you one time, consider me, you are going to be lifeless.”

The one factor that may forestall Kape from getting the subsequent shot at 24-year-old champion Joshua Van’s title could be a rematch between Van and former champion Alexandre Pantoja. Van took the belt from Pantoja in December, when Pantoja suffered a dislocated elbow throughout a clumsy fall after Van caught one a kick try. Van and Pantoja have each expressed curiosity in a rematch.