A familiar rivalry gets a fresh stage at UFC Fight Night this weekend. Manel Kape and Kyoji Horiguchi will renew a feud that began in Japan, this time in the United States on Saturday night, with the winner moving closer to a potential UFC flyweight title opportunity.
Kape (22-7) and Horiguchi (36-5, 1 NC) first crossed paths nearly nine years ago in the semifinals of the 2017 Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix. Kape, known by the fitting nickname “Starboy,” arrived with supreme confidence after knocking out former UFC fighter Ian McCall. During introductions, he stepped across neutral ground and raised his hands directly in front of Horiguchi. The bravado, however, did not lead to victory. Horiguchi dropped Kape and later submitted him in the third round before ultimately winning the tournament.
Despite the defeat, Kape still looks back on that bout as one of the defining fights of his career. At the time, he was a gifted but still-developing fighter thrown onto a major international stage. After returning home to help care for his sick mother, Kape had limited training options, relying largely on his cousin, who had a wrestling background, as his main training partner. Even so, he pushed a former UFC title challenger for nearly three full rounds. Now ranked ahead of Horiguchi in the UFC flyweight division, Kape believes the rematch offers a chance to show how far he has come.
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“I won all these fights only through will. I had no big environment or resources. I went in there with a guy who was already in the big leagues. He had everything around him [to succeed],” Kape told CBS Sports. “I gave him the most challenging fight he had in Japan. We went toe-to-toe. I felt like I could beat this guy. I just needed something more. I needed to be more professional. If we fought equally, I’d be that guy. I’m not saying easily, but comfortably.
“Right now, I’m not the young kid from nine years ago. I have all the resources I need. 100%, he’s going to feel what I felt before.”
Horiguchi’s departure from the UFC in 2017 was not a reflection of his ability. His only loss inside the Octagon came in a flyweight title fight against future UFC Hall of Famer Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. Instead, “The Karate Kid” left the promotion to become a bigger name in Japan and to compete in front of his sensei, Hirou Nihei, who was battling terminal cancer.
Horiguchi understands that Kape is now entering the rematch in peak form, but he is not conceding that his own best years are behind him. Nearly a decade after leaving the UFC, “The Karate Kid” has returned and quickly worked his way back into the flyweight rankings. As a new generation rises in the division, Horiguchi insists he is not simply a name from the past.
“My body feels very young,” Horiguchi told CBS Sports. “I can’t speak for other people, but I’ll take care of everything.
“I think everything has changed with [Kape]. He’s a better fighter right now. He’s a dangerous guy right now, but it doesn’t matter for me.”
The main card kicks off with a compelling bantamweight clash. Vinicius Oliveira entered the new year with momentum nearly on par with his supreme confidence. Mario Bautista brought him down a peg in their February Fight Night main event. Now, “Lok Dog” aims to bounce back against ultra-experienced veteran Andre Fili, stepping in for Giga Chikadze.
Let’s take a look at the rest of the fight card with the latest odds from DraftKings before getting to a prediction and expert pick on the main event below.
UFC Fight Night card, odds
UFC Fight Night viewing information
Date: June 20 | 8 p.m. ET (Main card) | 5 p.m. ET (Preliminary card)
Meta APEX — Las Vegas
Paramount+ (subscribe now for as low as $8.99 per month)
Prediction
: Kape has grown into one of the most dangerous flyweights on the planet. He now possesses the skills and experience to support the athleticism that propelled him to Japan’s biggest stage. He’s found a winning compromise between the aggression that cost him against Horiguchi and the patient counter striker who lost leads in the UFC. Kape’s kick knockout win over Brandon Royval elevated him to new heights. His combination of pressure, power, and precision — aided by subtle stance switches — will ruin most flyweights. I fear Horiguchi suffers a similar fate on Saturday. Horiguchi, a former Rizin and Bellator champion, does his best work bouncing between ranges. That’s a risky game to play with a five-inch reach disadvantage. Horiguchi wrestling isn’t elite, but his confidence in mixing it in highlights his intelligence and well-roundedness. He always keeps you thinking. Horiguchi’s sharp mind gives him the runway to win a decision. However, Kape’s striking prowess and defensive wrestling are nearly impossible to avoid for 25 minutes.
Who wins Kape vs. Horiguchi, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who is up over $21,000 on his UFC picks since May 2018, and find out.
