Kape Stops Horiguchi In The Third

Manel Kape is four fights into a winning streak and running out of patience waiting for a title shot.

The flyweight stopped Kyoji Horiguchi in the third round at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Kape called for a shot at flyweight champion Joshua Van in his post-fight interview.

The fight was not a comfortable night for Kape before the finish arrived. Horiguchi, returning to the UFC after finding his footing again with two wins since coming back — most recently a unanimous decision over Amir Albazi in February — was the cleaner fighter through much of the contest. His combination work and movement had him coming out of exchanges ahead on damage for long stretches, and a third-round scorecards scenario was shaping up unfavourably for Kape.

Then Horiguchi's aggression became his undoing. The Japanese veteran's forward-moving open style created the opening Kape had been waiting for, and when it came, he capitalised with a series of punches that ended the fight before the judges got to say anything.

Van holds the flyweight title and the division's challengers are stacking up around him. Kape's four-fight streak, the quality of opposition in his recent run, and the manner in which he closes fights give his title shot argument structure rather than simply volume. Whether the UFC agrees is the next question.