Kyoji Horiguchi plans to make a statement at UFC Vegas 119.
Horiguchi is set to rematch Manel Kape on Saturday in a pivotal fight at flyweight. It also serves as a rematch of their fight back in 2017 in RIZIN, which Horiguchi won by submission.
However, heading into the UFC Vegas 119 main event, Horiguchi is the betting underdog, but he’s confident he will be able to make a statement and finish Kape.
“First, I will beat Kape’s ass. Then, next, I don’t know who’s champion at that time, but I will get the belt soon,” Horiguchi said at UFC Vegas 119 media day. “He’s getting better everywhere, but it’s the same, me too. I’ve leveled up a lot everywhere, striking, jiu-jitsu, wrestling. I’m not scared of him.”
If Kyoji Horiguchi does make a statement and finishes Manel Kape at UFC Vegas 119, he could very well get the next title shot. Yet, it will be easier said than done, as Kape is a tough out for anyone, but Horiguchi has plenty of confidence he can finish him again, as he did back in RIZIN nearly 10 years ago.
Meanwhile, Joshua Van doesn’t have his next fight booked, so if Alexandre Pantoja isn’t ready soon, perhaps Horiguchi can leapfrog him to get the flyweight title shot he’s after.
Horiguchi enters UFC Vegas 119 with a record of 36-5 and one NC and is coming off a decision win over Amir Albazi after a submission win over Tagir Ulanbekov in his return to the UFC.
UFC Vegas 119 Fight Card
UFC Vegas 119 is set to go down on Saturday at the Apex, and the fight card is as follows:
- Manel Kape vs. Kyoji Horiguchi
- Ion Cutelaba vs. Navajo Stirling
- Christian Rodriguez vs. Hyder Amil
- Andre Lima vs. Kevin Borjas
- Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Murtazali Magomedov
- Vinicius Oliveira vs. Andre Fili
- Bia Mesquita vs. Melissa Mullins
- Mitch Raposo vs. Allan Nascimento
- Michael Aswell Jr. vs. Gaston Bolanos
- Karol Rosa vs. Luana Santos
- Leon Shahbazyan vs. Levan Chokheli
- Shane Collins vs. Otari Tanzilovi
Do you think Kyoji Horiguchi will beat Manel Kape at UFC Vegas 119?
