Manel Kape gets his chance at revenge Saturday night when he headlines UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Horiguchi against Kyoji Horiguchi, the man who choked him out nearly nine years ago. The flyweight rematch tops a card streaming live on Paramount+ from the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.
Key Points
- Main Event: Manel Kape vs. Kyoji Horiguchi, a flyweight rematch nine years in the making between the No. 2 and No. 5 ranked contenders.
- Co-Main: Veteran Ion Cutelaba tries to spoil the debut hype around unbeaten City Kickboxing prospect Navajo Stirling at light heavyweight.
- How to Watch: Saturday, June 20, 2026 on Paramount+. Prelims 5 p.m. ET, main card 8 p.m. ET.
The Headliner Carries Real History
Kape and Horiguchi first fought in December 2017 at Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: Final Round, where Horiguchi submitted Kape via arm-triangle choke in the third round. Both men have rebuilt their careers since, and the rematch now pits two top-five flyweights against each other with title-picture stakes on the line.
Full Main Card
| Bout | Weight Class |
|---|---|
| Manel Kape vs. Kyoji Horiguchi | Flyweight |
| Ion Cutelaba vs. Navajo Stirling | Light Heavyweight |
| Hyder Amil vs. Christian Rodriguez | Featherweight |
| Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Murtazali Magomedov | Featherweight |
| Vinicius Oliveira vs. Andre Fili | Featherweight |
Match Previews
Flyweight: Manel Kape vs. Kyoji Horiguchi
The headliner is a redo of a 2017 RIZIN meeting, with both fighters now operating near the top of the UFC flyweight division.
- The first fight: Horiguchi finished Kape by arm-triangle choke in the third round of their RIZIN semifinal in December 2017.
- The rebuild: Kape (22-7) arrived in the UFC as a finisher and turned himself into a top-five flyweight with knockout power.
- The physical edge: Kape works behind a 68-inch reach, giving him a four-inch advantage over Horiguchi.
- The résumé across: Horiguchi (36-5, 1 NC) is a former RIZIN flyweight champion, two-time RIZIN bantamweight champion, and former Bellator bantamweight champion.
- What’s at stake: A win pushes either man up a crowded flyweight ladder and into the title conversation.
Light Heavyweight: Ion Cutelaba vs. Navajo Stirling
The co-main throws an unbeaten prospect into the deep end against one of the division’s most unpredictable veterans.
- The prospect: Navajo Stirling (9-0) is the City Kickboxing product fans have been waiting to see step up in competition.
- The spoiler: Ion Cutelaba (20-11-1) is a wild, aggressive veteran capable of ending fights inside the opening minutes.
- The test: Stirling’s perfect record meets its toughest examination to date against a fighter who thrives on chaos.
Featherweight: Hyder Amil vs. Christian Rodriguez
On paper, this is the best stylistic scrap of the card.
- The matchup: Hyder Amil (11-2) faces Christian Rodriguez (12-4) in a featherweight clash with contrasting approaches.
- The stakes: Both men need a statement win to climb out of the featherweight logjam.
Featherweight: Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Murtazali Magomedov
An unbeaten record meets a dangerous striker in a featherweight bout.
- The undefeated man: Murtazali Magomedov (10-0) puts his perfect record on the line.
- The obstacle: Melsik Baghdasaryan (8-3) brings the kind of striking that can test any prospect’s chin.
Featherweight: Vinicius Oliveira vs. Andre Fili
A ranked riser takes on a durable divisional gatekeeper.
- The riser: Vinicius Oliveira (23-4) enters as the No. 12 ranked featherweight.
- The veteran: Andre Fili (25-13) offers a stiff measuring stick with years of Octagon experience.
How to Watch
- Date/Time: Saturday, June 20, 2026. Prelims 5 p.m. ET, main card 8 p.m. ET.
- Venue: Meta APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Streaming: Paramount+ (United States)
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