Kape Knocks Out Horiguchi and Stakes Claim for UFC Flyweight Title Shot

The late third‑round TKO gives Kape clear momentum for a title opportunity with the timing tied to the scheduled Joshua Van–Alexandre Pantoja rematch.

Overview

Manel Kape landed a third‑round TKO of Kyoji Horiguchi on June 20 at the UFC’s Meta APEX, avenging their 2017 meeting and extending his knockout streak.
Kape’s finish has pushed him to the front of the flyweight queue but a title shot likely hinges on the already booked Joshua Van versus Alexandre Pantoja rematch.
The card produced multiple decisive outcomes that reshaped contender momentum, including Murtazali Magomedov’s rare first‑round twister, Navajo Stirling’s sub‑90‑second stoppage of Ion Cutelaba, Christian Rodriguez’s first‑round guillotine, and Vinicius Oliveira’s second‑round TKO of Andre Fili.
Post‑event coverage and power rankings from outlets and analysts immediately moved winners upward and offered specific matchmaking suggestions to accelerate their paths into ranked fights.
The Meta APEX show highlighted how emphatic, unusual finishes can rapidly change careers because they draw promoter attention, move fighters up rankings, and create immediate demand for higher‑profile matchups.