Former Rizin champions set to reignite rivalry in the desert
Former RIZIN champions are set to collide once again, this time under the bright lights of the UFC Apex, as Manel Kapeand Kyoji Horiguchi reignite their rivalry in a high-stakes flyweight main event at UFC Vegas 119.
Scheduled for June 20th in Las Vegas, the five-round headliner marks a long-awaited rematch nearly a decade in the making. Their first meeting dates back to 2017, when Horiguchi submitted Kape via rear-naked choke in the third round of the RIZIN World Grand Prix finals. That bout, held in front of a massive crowd at the Saitama Super Arena, helped cement Horiguchi’s legacy as one of the premier lighter-weight fighters in the world.
Now, both men enter with even more at stake.
Kape, currently sitting as the division’s No. 2 ranked contender, has surged into title contention with his explosive striking and growing confidence inside the Octagon. Meanwhile, Horiguchi—ranked No. 5 and a former Bellator champion—returns to the UFC looking to prove he can still compete with the elite at 125 pounds.
The timing of this matchup couldn’t be more significant.
With reigning champion Joshua Van scheduled to defend his title against rising contender Tatsuro Taira on April 11th in Miami, the outcome of Kape vs. Horiguchi could very well determine the next title challenger. Adding further intrigue is the uncertain status of former champion Alexandre Pantoja, who has been sidelined with an elbow injury that cost him the belt.
Should Pantoja’s recovery timeline extend, the door could open even wider for the winner in Las Vegas.
Nearly eight years removed from their first encounter, both Kape and Horiguchi have evolved into more complete fighters. But the question remains—will history repeat itself, or will Kape even the score and stake his claim for UFC gold?
On June 20th, in the Nevada desert, we’ll get the answer.
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