The UFC returned to the Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night with UFC Fight Night 279, and while the card featured several impressive performances, one fighter left with his championship aspirations stronger than ever.
Manel Kape delivered a statement-making performance in the main event, stopping former Bellator and RIZIN champion Kyoji Horiguchi in the third round to secure the biggest victory of his UFC career and potentially punch his ticket to a flyweight title shot.
The event itself produced plenty of action, with seven of the 12 fights ending inside the distance and several fighters making history along the way.
Kape Continues Historic Run
Kape entered the rematch with Horiguchi seeking revenge for a loss suffered nearly a decade ago in RIZIN. After overcoming adversity through the opening rounds, Kape found his moment in Round 3 when he cracked Horiguchi with a devastating right hand before swarming for the finish.
The victory extended Kape’s winning streak to four consecutive fights, all by knockout. That streak now stands as the longest knockout streak in UFC flyweight history.
Kape’s six knockout victories inside the UFC are also the most ever recorded in the promotion’s flyweight division.
The Angola-born contender continues climbing the record books. His eight knockdowns in UFC flyweight competition are tied with Kai Kara-France for the second-most in divisional history, trailing only former champion Deiveson Figueiredo.
With four straight stoppage victories over elite competition, Kape has positioned himself as one of the division’s most dangerous finishers and arguably the most deserving challenger for the winner of the next flyweight championship bout.
A Bonus-Worthy Night
Kape wasn’t the only fighter rewarded for his efforts. The UFC handed out four $100,000 performance bonuses following the event. Kape shared bonus honors with Murtazali Magomedov, Vinicius Oliveira, and veteran featherweight Andre Fili.
In addition, four fighters received $25,000 finish bonuses as part of the UFC’s ongoing bonus structure.
The card generated plenty of interesting statistics. Betting favorites finished the night with an 8-4 record, continuing a trend that has seen favorites dominate UFC events throughout 2026.
The 12-fight card lasted a total of one hour, 53 minutes, and 40 seconds inside the Octagon. Debuting fighters posted a respectable 3-2 record. The UFC’s Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts totaled $168,000 for participating athletes. While the UFC sold VIP ticket packages for the event, the promotion did not publicly release attendance or gate figures.
Kape’s Place in Flyweight History
Kape’s recent surge has elevated him into rare company.
His six stoppage wins are tied for the fourth-most in UFC flyweight history behind only:
- Alexandre Pantoja (8)
- Deiveson Figueiredo (7)
- Demetrious Johnson (7)
More impressively, Kape now owns the most knockout victories in flyweight division history.
Among active flyweights, only Joshua Van currently holds a longer winning streak, having won seven straight.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
