Manel Cape is not ready for a title shot.
Regardless of doubtlessly dealing with present UFC flyweight champion Joshua Vann sooner or later, Kape did not wish to sit out most of 2026 ready for that struggle to occur. On the time, the UFC had already dedicated Hirataro to his subsequent title shot, so the promotion gave Cape the choice of ready to struggle the winner or selecting one other opponent to stay lively within the meantime.
It did not take lengthy for Cape to resolve to e book his subsequent match.
“They gave me the choice to attend for the title, however I do not wish to wait,” Kape informed MMA Preventing. “I am in good timing, good rhythm. It isn’t my sort of fighter to attend till the top of the yr to struggle for a title. I wish to maintain rolling, I wish to maintain being profitable.”
“I consider that as a champion who thinks you are a champion, it’s a must to struggle everybody. Ultimately you are going to struggle him, and no matter it’s, in case you’re a champion it’s a must to struggle everybody. So why not do it early? That is why I did it.”
Kape revealed that UFC officers truly apologized to Kape, particularly after Kape had received all three of his fights by knockout and seemed like he can be competing for the title sooner.
Nonetheless, attributable to Van sustaining a minor damage, the match with Taira was postponed from April to Could, successfully ending Kape as an oddball participant. He did not get offended or annoyed over the delay, as an alternative telling the UFC to offer him one other struggle.
“They had been very loyal to me,” Cape mentioned. “[They]apologized as a result of they promised Tatsuro the struggle.[They]perceive all of the the explanation why you are offended and we all know you are the man who needs to be combating for the title. However alternatively, the pay is excellent and so they gave me the choice to attend. However that is not my type.”
“It isn’t my type to attend for one thing, to get heavy, anticipate every little thing, to be a reserve (for a title struggle). No, I wish to struggle. I would like an actual struggle. That is what I selected.”
Though it isn’t a title struggle, Kape was nonetheless enthusiastic about his rematch with Kyoji Horiguchi in Saturday’s UFC Vegas 119 predominant occasion since he first confronted Horiguchi at RIZIN in 2017. Horiguchi scored a third-round submission victory that evening, however shortly after re-signing with the UFC final yr, Cape knew a reunion between the 2 was inevitable.
Wanting again at his first struggle, Kape is aware of he wasn’t prepared for an skilled opponent like Horiguchi, however he did not hesitate when the matchup was provided.
“After I fought him, he was a killer,” Cape mentioned. “I feel he is slowed down somewhat bit. After all, on the time I fought him, with out taking any credit score (on the away), he was an unbelievable fighter and he is nonetheless a superb fighter. However I’ve fought younger guys from Africa prior to now…I lived in Angola for 2 years and… On the time, I used to be simply coaching with my cousin. He had simply graduated from England, the place he was a enterprise scholar, and in his free time he used to wrestle and shoot in London. He wasn’t knowledgeable athlete. When he got here again, he was the one one we had on the commencement ceremony. It was at all times simply me and him, simply pure coaching.
“If folks noticed the place I got here from and the way I used to be coaching, they might say you are loopy. I accepted the supply to go to RIZIN, however I did not even know who the hell Kyoji was. I assumed this was a superb alternative to get again into MMA, as a result of I hadn’t had a struggle in a yr or two.”
After the sport, Kape mentioned Horiguchi’s longtime head coach, Mike Brown, truly invited him to observe with American High Workforce in Florida. Nonetheless, Cape knew that he would finally run into Horiguchi once more, so he handed on the chance.
“I hoped to struggle this man once more sometime,” Cape mentioned. “I will prepare elsewhere as a result of I do know I can beat him. If I’ve the identical construction as him, I can beat him. The scenario we’re in proper now’s loopy.”
Kape does not see this rematch as an opportunity for revenge. As a result of I’ve come to this point since my first recreation that I do not even significantly think about myself the identical individual anymore.
That being mentioned, Kape is aware of {that a} win would put him on observe to lastly contend for the long-away UFC flyweight title. He additionally has a stack of receipts from his pursuit of a gold medal shot and is assured the UFC will make good on its promise to him.
“They did not give me a title shot as a result of they promised Hirataro,” Cape mentioned. “Likewise, in the event that they promise to offer me a struggle on the finish of the yr, that is the fact. I can sit right here very comfortably and inform everybody I am combating for the title and simply wait. What is the assure? They’re going to give me phrase. If they offer me a promise to Heitaro, then I am open to the identical negotiation.”
“After all, in the event that they made a promise, they’ll maintain their promise. That is the technique I can use in opposition to them, nevertheless it’s not my sort. The top of the yr is lengthy. It isn’t about funds, I am very comfy. However it’s concerning the love of competitors. Problem and timing. I do not wish to waste any extra time. There have been plenty of cancellations. That is the one factor within the struggle, I like doing it and I wish to proceed to point out why I am this man.”
