UFC Vegas 119 preview and predictions: Kyoji Horiguchi or Manel Kape — who wins?

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UFC Vegas 119 preview and predictions: Kyoji Horiguchi or Manel Kape — who wins?

It almost feels insulting to return to the Meta Apex for UFC Vegas 119 after an epic night at UFC Freedom 250 on the White House’s South Lawn last Sunday. At the very least, hardcore fight fans will be spoiled for choice with an exciting flyweight rematch.

Manel Kape and Kyoji Horiguchi will fight for UFC gold nearly a decade after their first fight in Japan. Horiguchi walked away a winner on that one, as he began his career making legends overseas. But Cape has become a contender to watch whenever he fights, and he’s grown a lot since that bantamweight bout.

Other than that, the bright spots are few and far between at UFC Vegas 119. Another fight card, but as usual, that one fight in the headliner is an absolute banger.

👑 List of UFC Vegas 119 Crown grade: D-. 👑

Kyoji Horiguchi and Manel Kape are slated for their sequels.

(Etsuo Hara via Getty Images)

125 pounds: Manel Kape (-155) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi (+125)

In terms of fighting age, Horiguchi and Kape are far apart from each other at their 2017 RIZIN show. The circumstances of Saturday’s replay are also very different, but parallels can still be drawn.

For starters, the first fight took place in the ring under the universal rule, which covers the fights as a whole instead of a round. As mentioned, he also competed at bantamweight, and was also a semi-finalist for the RIZIN bantamweight belt that year, meaning that the winner was expected to fight in the final again that night – in front of 20,000 fans and more than some of their guys and friends in the store.

Spoiler alert: Horiguchi won the whole thing, finishing Cape in Round 3 with an arm triangle choke before taking out Shintaro Ishiwatari to win the whole thing.

Cape was quickly knocked down by a right hand pointing upwards. That set the tone for the rest of the fight, knowing the power Horiguchi packed. Although their pace was almost identical throughout, Horiguchi just had the better time and has shown that in his times since. Because of this, Cape was forced to participate and pursue more trades than one would expect after watching him in the UFC.

It may be that size is on Cape’s side this time as he has been able to move into the flyweight division over time. That should enable him to fight more aggressively than in their first fight, where he was unsuccessful. Horiguchi has been consistently small, but he has brought the advantages of accuracy and speed to all aspects of his game. Both men have shown high-quality chops in their prime, but it’s safe to say that Cape has underperformed in recent years, even if his last three fights have been a good improvement producer.

If we’re going to look at consistency and progress over the past decade, Horiguchi is about as shining a role model as it gets. He was a dominant fighter at bantamweight, but get this: In his 13 fights at flyweight, he only lost to Demetrious Johnson. It sounds crazy to say, considering Horiguchi (36-5, 1 NC) has such an insane record.

At 35 or older, everyone is winning a UFC title these days. It’s now RIZIN’s turn to be the former multi-division champion and Bellator bantamweight title holder.

Choose: Horiguchi

205 pounds: Ion Cuțelaba (+260) vs. Navajo Stirling (-325)

The odds don’t surprise me here for the main event of UFC Vegas 119.

What Navajo Stirling says about the value of the name on his record, he does with great hype and speed. He’s beating everyone the way he’s supposed to, which means it’s time for him to step up to Moldova’s Ion Cutelaba.

Over the years, Cutelaba has been the perfect gatekeeper at light heavyweight. You know what to expect from a man who paints himself green to look like the Hulk – and that’s usually a smash hit anywhere.

Stirling has been very patient and transparent with his strikes throughout his young career, and this one provides the perfect stylistic match for him to light up Cutelaba like a Christmas tree, nice and early.

Choose: Brushing

145 pounds: Hyder Amil (+165) vs. Christian Rodriguez (-200)

This is written “defeated city” written all over the place, each man entering two limits of loss.

Hyder Amil was a promising prospect undefeated in his first 11 fights. However, at the age of 36, it seems that his time is up after facing well-rounded and deadly opposition.

Christian Rodriguez isn’t in the knockout stages, but he’s been a solid finisher in his UFC run. Just ask Austin Bashi and Raul Rosas Jr.

In fact, youth is on Rodriguez’s side, and he has fought better competition.

Pick: Rodriguez

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - FEBRUARY 21: Melsik Baghdasaryan of Armenia stands on the scale during the UFC Fight Night weigh-ins at the Climate Pledge Arena on February 21, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) — Melsik Baghdasaryan has not fought for a year and a half.

(Chris Unger via Getty Images)

145 pounds: Melsik Baghdasaryan (+240) vs. Murtazali Magomedov (-300)

Melsik Baghdasaryan disappeared after a tough loss to Jean Silva at UFC Seattle last year. A staunch optimist himself, Baghdasaryan does not find the reception party easy.

Murtazali Magomedov is the real deal. He will make his UFC debut after winning the Contender Series last September. The win kept his streak alive, and he will do the same against Baghdasaryan, given the danger he presents everywhere the fight goes.

Baghdasaryan can provide exciting challenges at Magomedov’s feet, but ultimately he’ll have plenty of offense to worry about getting back at him.

Choose: Magomedov

145 pounds: Andre Fili (+240) vs. Vinicius Oliveira (-300)

Here’s your uncontrollable figure: Andre Fili has it never lost consecutive fights in his 39-fight career. In fact, he alternates wins and losses more often than not, currently going back and forth in his past nine. His latest fight? Losing Jose Miguel Delgado, which means he’s expecting a sweet, sweet W again.

Unfortunately for “Touchy,” this does not looked like a matchup to keep his streak alive.

Although Vinicius Oliveira was sent back to Earth (and sent down to featherweight) after his main event loss to Mario Bautista in February, he is still one fighter. Oliveira’s brilliance is unusual in many ways when you stand across from him. The fight with Fili was made for Brazil to shine, because of Fili’s willingness to throw down.

Despite the change in weight, Oliveira should be equipped to pass the seasoned vet.

Pick: Oliveira

Preliminary Notes

Outside of the main event, there are only two fights involving ranked fighters. Coincidentally, both are in the first division – and in the women’s bantamweight division. Yes, the breakup isn’t great right now, but if the UFC doesn’t care about it, the viewers won’t leave either.

That being said, you should care about the growing assistant Beatriz Mesquita. Ironically, the showrunners abandoned the two fights, as Mesquita should get a better test as Karol Rosa instead of Melissa Mullins, who faces Luana Santos.

Like I said, the UFC doesn’t care.

Quick selection: