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MMA·March 25, 2026 01:53 AM ET

UFC Vegas 119 main event: Manel Kape vs. Kyoji Horiguchi rematch set for June 20

Top flyweight contenders rematch after years of near-misses, impacting title picture.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Mar 251 min read
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Photo: @MMAJunkie

What happened: UFC announced Manel Kape vs. Kyoji Horiguchi as the main event for UFC Vegas 119 on June 20. The fight is a rematch of their 2019 Rizin 18 bout, where Horiguchi won by unanimous decision. Prior UFC bookings were scrapped twice due to withdrawals.

Why it matters: Both fighters are ranked in the top 10 flyweights, with the winner positioning for a title shot amid Brandon Moreno's recent activity. Kape's knockout power vs. Horiguchi's wrestling creates betting value.

By the numbers: Head-to-head: Horiguchi def. Kape (Rizin 18, UD 3/19/2019). Early betting Kape, Horiguchi. Injury history: Kape withdrew from prior UFC booking (Dec 2023, shin injury); Horiguchi pulled out once for Bellator title.

What to watch: Monitor official weigh-ins and opening prop lines for over/under rounds. Fighter social media for camp updates.

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@MMAJunkieMar 25
MMABreakingManel KapeKyoji Horiguchi
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