Six Knockouts Aren't Enough: Manel Kape Is Coming For Derrick Lewis's UFC Throne

Alright, Seattle, buckle up! You won't believe what went down in Vegas this past Saturday at UFC Fight Night 279. Manel Kape, the dude who already hits like a freight train, just made history in the flyweight division. He blew past Kyoji Horiguchi with a dominant third-round TKO, securing the top spot for most knockout wins in UFC flyweight history. Yeah, you heard that right, *sole possession* of the 125-pound striking finishes record, moving out of a tie with Joseph Benavidez. Most fighters would be popping champagne after a feat like that, but Kape? Nah, he's already got his eyes on a much, MUCH bigger prize.

King of the Flyweights, But He Wants More

Let's not downplay what Manel Kape (23-7 MMA, 8-3 UFC) accomplished against Kyoji Horiguchi (36-6 MMA, 9-2 UFC). This wasn't some walk in the park. He showed up, he delivered, and he etched his name into the history books as the most distinguished hitter in flyweight history. That's a huge deal. He's the guy setting the standard for power at 125 pounds. You'd think that would be enough, right? To be the best at what you do in your weight class, especially at 32 years old, is a career highlight for most. But Kape's ambition? It's on a whole other level. He's looking past division records, past personal bests, and straight at the biggest knockout artist the UFC has ever seen.

Derrick Lewis's Reign Is Under Threat

Here's where it gets absolutely wild.

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Kape isn't content with just owning the flyweight record. He wants to be the knockout king for the entire UFC. And he's got a name in mind for who he wants to replace at the top of that mountain: Derrick Lewis. The Black Beast, the guy with an incredible 16 knockout wins inside the octagon, is the target. Kape, with his current six UFC knockout wins, is looking at a massive climb. "Most knockouts with the least fights," Kape told MMA Junkie post-fight. "Imagine the other fights when guys pull out, if the fights had still gone on. I could've had more knockouts because I think I only have (11) fights in UFC with six knockouts. It's a good average. I want to pass Derrick Lewis. I want to pass the record of Derrick Lewis, and I know I can do this." That's the confidence of a man who truly believes he can do it. But let's be real, Kape has a significant amount of work to do. Sixteen is a long way from six, and Lewis has been putting on a clinic for years. This isn't just about a record anymore; it's about legacy. Manel Kape is telling the world he's not just a flyweight phenomenon; he wants to be known as the greatest knockout artist in UFC history. It's a monumental challenge, and for now, he'll have to keep adding to his highlight reel to even threaten Lewis's position. But Kape has declared his intentions, and the chase is officially on. We're all watching to see if this 32-year-old can back up that massive talk and start chipping away at Derrick Lewis's seemingly untouchable record. This is going to be epic!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.