Horiguchi got the better of Kape in their first meeting. | Rizin
FF
A couple of former
Rizin Fighting Federation standouts are going to run it back in
a potential flyweight title eliminator.
Kyoji
Horiguchi and Manel Kape
will headline a UFC Fight Night event on June 20 at the
UFC Apex in Las Vegas. MMAjunkie.com was first to report the 125-pound
booking. Horiguchi defeated Kape via third-round submission in a
Rizin bantamweight grand prix semifinal on Dec. 31, 2017.
Title Shot at Stake?
Horiguchi went 7-1 during his first Octagon stint, coming up short
against Demetrious
Johnson in a flyweight title bout at UFC 186. After a
successful run in Rizin, the
American Top Team standout has returned to the Las Vegas-based
promotion to post back-to-back triumphs over Tagir
Ulanbekov and Amir
Albazi.
Kape, meanwhile, has been victorious in seven of his last eight
Octagon appearances — with his lone defeat coming against Muhammad
Mokaev at UFC 304. “Starboy” has finished three straight
opponents since then, including a first-round KO of former title
challenger Brandon
Royval at UFC on ESPN 73 this past December.