Manel Kape reveals why he risked a title shot to fight Kyoji Horiguchi. As one of the top-ranked contenders in the UFC flyweight division, Kape was in a strong position to wait for a title opportunity. Instead, he chose to risk his place in line and accepted a high-stakes rematch against Kyoji Horiguchi in the main event of UFC Vegas 119.
After initially being linked to a potential title shot, circumstances in the flyweight division changed. Tatsuro Taira was promised the next championship opportunity, while a minor injury delayed champion Joshua Van’s next defense. The UFC reportedly offered Kape compensation and the chance to serve as a backup for the title fight, but he declined. Rather than sitting on the sidelines waiting, he chose to stay active and take on a familiar rival.
“They gave me option to wait for the title but I don’t want to wait,” Kape told MMA Fighting. “I’m on good timing, good rhythm. To wait until the end of the year to fight for the title, that’s not the type of fighter I am. I want to keep rolling., I want to keep making money. “I believe as a champion as a guy that thinks he’s the champion, you have to fight everyone. You’re going to fight him sooner or later, whatever it is, you’re going to have to fight everyone if you are a champion. So why not do early? So that’s what I did.”
Kape revealed that UFC officials actually apologized to him after it appeared he would fight for the title sooner, especially after he scored three straight wins all by knockout. “They were very honest with me,” Kape said. “[They] apologized, because [they] promised the fight to Tatsuro. [They said] we know you have all the reasons to be mad and you’re the guy that’s supposed to be fighting for the title. But on the other hand, the compensation is very good and they gave me the option to wait. But it’s not my style. “It’s not my styles to wait for something, getting heavy and everything or even be a backup for [the title fight]. No, I want to have a fight. I want to have a real fight. That’s what I chose.”
“At the time I fought him, he was a killer,” Kape said. “I think he slowed down a little bit. Of course, at that time that I fought him, not taking any credit [away], he was an incredible fighter and he’s still a good fighter, but in the past fight with a young guy coming from Africa … I was in Angola living there for two years and then I was only training with my cousin. He just graduated from England and in England he was a student in business and doing wrestling in his free time and London shootfighting. He was not a professional athlete. When he came back from graduation, we were training. He was the only person that I had. It was just me and him, all the time, no resources. Just pure training. “If people see where I came from and how I was training, people would say you are crazy. I accepted the offer to go to RIZIN and I didn’t even know who the hell Kyoji was. I was just like this is a good opportunity to get back in MMA because for one or two years, I didn’t fight.”
After the fight, Kape says that Horiguchi’s long time head coach Mike Brown actually invited him to come train with them at American Top Team in Florida. But Kape knew he would eventually cross paths with Horiguchi again so he passed on that opportunity. “I was thinking one day I’m going to fight this guy again,” Kape said. “I’m going to train at another place because I know I can beat him. If I had the same structure that he had, I can beat him. Where we’re at now, it’s funny.”
“They didn’t give me the title shot because they promised Tatsuro Taira,” Kape said. “The same way, if they promise they’d give me the fight at the end of the year, it is what it is. I could sit here very comfortable and tell everyone I’m fighting for the title and just wait. What’s your guarantee? They give me their word. If they gave their word to Tatsuro Taira, I can play the same negotiation.
“Of course, if they promised, they’ll keep their word. That’s the strategy I could use against them but it’s not my type. End of the year is a long time. It’s not about financial — I’m very comfortable. But it’s just about the love of competition. The challenge and the timing. I don’t want to waste more time. I had a lot of cancellations. That’s the one thing about fighting and I love to do it and I want to keep showing why I am this guy.”
Now, with revenge and title contention both on the line, Kape has made it clear that he has no interest in waiting around. He would rather prove himself inside the Octagon than watch the division move forward without him. If he can finally avenge his loss to Horiguchi, Kape may leave Las Vegas with a statement victory that makes the UFC’s next title decision impossible to ignore.
