UFC Fight Night 279 live results: Manel Kape vs. Kyoji Horiguchi
Less than a week after the historic event at The White House, the Octagon returns to its home base in Las Vegas this weekend for UFC Fight Night 279 inside the Meta Apex.
The main event is a potential title eliminator in the flyweight division as second-ranked Manel Kape battles fifth-ranked former title challenger Kyoji Horiguchi. This will be the second time the two square off, as Horiguchi submitted Kape in the third round in a December 2017 bout in the RIZIN promotion. Kape has won three straight fights, while Horiguchi is looking to improve to 3-0 since his return to the UFC.
The co-main event is an explosive light heavyweight fight pitting Ion Cutelaba against undefeated Navajo Stirling. The rest of the main card features three bouts in the featherweight division- Hyder Amil takes on Christian Rodriguez; Melski Baghdasaryan battles the debuting and undefeated Murtazali Magomedov; and Andre Fili squares off against Vinicius Oliveira.
PRELIMS | 5 PM ET | 2 PM PT
> Featherweights- Shane Collins (7-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Otari Tanzilovi (10-1, 0-0 UFC)
Tanzilovi lands a leg kick. He lands another. They trade punches and then leg kicks. Tanzilovi lands a spin kick. Collins lands against the fence and Tanzilovi fights off the fence and connects. They clinch and Tanzilovi lands a knee before they split. Tanzilovi scores a takedown but Collins snatches the neck and looks for a guillotine choke. Tanzilovi escapes and keeps top control. Collins with some elbows to the side and they work to their feet and separate. Collins connects to the body as they clinch against the fence. They break apart. They trade right hands. Tanzilovi with a right hand. Tanzilovi with a leg kick. Collins with a combo to the body as they clinch. Collins tries for a takedown but Tanzilovi defends. They trade knees. They break apart and Collins lands a pair of right hands. Collins with a knee up the middle and Tanzilovi connects with a pair of right hands. They clinch. 10-9 Collins.
Tanzilovi scores a takedown. They get to their feet and Collins lands a combination. Collins with a pair of right hands. Tanzilovi scores a takedown. Tanzilovi with some punches to the legs. They scramble up and Tanzilovi has the back, but they break apart. Tanzilovi lands a combo. Collins looks for a takedown against the fence and Tanzilovi lands a knee as they separate. Tanzilovi with a combination. Tanzilovi with a big body kick, but then Collins lands against the fence. Tanzilovi looks for a single leg and Collins defends as Tanzilovi pushes it to the fence. They break apart but quickly clinch back up. Both land knees against the fence. Tanzilovi scores a takedown and Collins looks for a D’Arce choke as the round ends. 10-9 Tanzilovi, 19-19.
Tanzilovi lands a leg kick then a right hand. Tanzilovi with an uppercut inside the pocket. Collins lands against the fence. Tanzilovi scores a takedown, but they quickly get up and Tanzilovi continues to look for a takedown. Collins reverses and lands a knee. They separate and both land. Collins lands better before Tanzilovi scores a takedown. Collins grabs the neck and looks for a guillotine choke. Tanzilovi escapes and they get to their feet. They trade with Collins landing better. Tanzilovi lands a right hand and a body kick. Tanzilovi looks for a takedown, but Collins sprawls. They trade along the fence. Collins shoots for a takedown against the fence but Tanzilovi defends and lands a right hand as they separate. Collins lands at the end. 10-9 Collins, 29-28 Collins.
Fight Result- Shane Collins def. Otari Tanzilovi by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Women’s Bantamweights- #8 Karol Rosa (19-7, 8-4 UFC) vs. #11 Luana Santos (10-2, 5-1 UFC)
Santos lands a body kick. Santos looks for a takedown and they crash into the fence. Rosa lands an elbow as she defends. Santos still looking for the takedown as Rosa is defending with small body shots. Santos continues to pressure but they break apart. Santos lands a body kick and Rosa lands a right hand. Santos lands a combination. Santos is able to score a takedown and has a headlock on. Santos with some punches from the top. 10-9 Santos.
Santos lands and scores a takedown as Rosa slips on a kick. Santos is pressuring from the top. Santos landing from the top. Santos mixing shots to the body and head. Rosa with short shots from the bottom but she is stuck there as Santos has her pinned flat down. Santos landing punches to body and head from the top. Santos with more shots from the top. 10-9 Santos, 20-18 Santos.
They trade and Santos presses Rosa against the fence looking for a takedown. Santos has the back and briefly gets it down but maintains back control on the feet. Santos keeps back control and gets the takedown and is looking to set up a choke. Santos lands some left hands from the back. Santos ends the fight dominating from the back. 10-9 Santos, 30-27 Santos.
Fight Result- Luana Santos def. Karol Rosa by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Welterweights- Leon Shahbazyan (12-4, 0-0 UFC) vs. Levan Chokheli (14-3 1 NC, 0-0 UFC)
Chokheli lands a pair of rough calf kicks and then starts teeing off on Shahbazyan against the fence and Shahbazyan goes down and it is all over! That was a vicious debut from Chokheli!
Fight Result- Levan Chokheli def. Leon Shahbazyan by TKO (strikes) at :23 of Round 1
> Featherweights- Gaston Bolanos (8-5, 2-2 UFC) vs. Michael Aswell (11-4, 1-2 UFC)
Aswell pressing forward immediately and both connect. Aswell lands a combination and then a big right hand. Aswell lands a jab and Bolanos lands a big flurry that makes Aswell stumble. They both connect inside close range. Aswell lands a right hand. Aswell with a left hook and Bolanos lands a leg kick. Aswell with a combo as Bolanos is landing. Aswell lands a right hand. Bolanos with a body kick. Aswell lands a left hook. Bolanos lands a body kick. Aswell with a combination. Bolanos lands a high kick. Bolanos connects with a right hand. They are both connecting with their punches. Bolanos rocks Aswell with a right hand. Aswell lands a quick flurry. Bolanos with a body kick and lands a few right hands and a spinning back fist. 10-9 Bolanos.
They both land inside the pocket as Aswell connects with a left hook. Bolanos lands a combo and a knee up the middle. Bolanos with a pair of body kicks. Bolanos with a right hand and Aswell counters with a right hand. Bolanos lands to the body. Aswell with a quick combo. Bolanos scores a takedown. They get up and both land in close range. Bolanos with a high kick and Aswell lands a right hand. Bolanos with a pair of kicks. Bolanos with more kicks as Aswell lands a right hand. Aswell goes for a takedown but Bolanos reverses and is on top, but they work to their feet. Bolanos with a pair of head kicks. Bolanos with a spinning elbow. 10-9 Bolanos, 20-18 Bolanos.
Aswell lands a combination. Bolanos lands a right hand. Aswell with a combination. Aswell connects and pushes Bolanos against the fence. They separate and Aswell lands a good combination. Aswell lands a right hand. Aswell with a combination. Bolanos lands a right hand. Aswell lands a combination. Bolanos lands a big right hand followed by a left hand. Aswell is still pressing forward. Aswell with a combination. Bolanos tries a spin kick but they end up on the ground with Aswell landing from the top. Bolanos with elbows from the bottom and they scramble up just before the horn. 10-9 Aswell, 29-28 Bolanos.
Fight Result- Gaston Bolanos def. Michael Aswell by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Flyweights- Allan Nascimento (22-6, 4-1 UFC) vs. Mitch Raposo (10-3, 1-2 UFC)
Raposo lands a right hand that backs Nascimento up. Raposo lands a left hand in a quick exchange. Raposo lands a quick combination. Nascimento is cut open around the eye. They trade and Nascimento lands a knee. They clinch against the fence but quickly separate. They trade in close range and both land inside the pocket. 10-9 Raposo.
Nascimento throwing front kicks. They trade and Raposo complains of an eye poker and timeout is called. They get back to action and trade before Nascimento forces a clinch against the fence. They separate and Raposo lands a combination. Nascimento with a high kick. Raposo works the jab. Nascimento with some front kicks. Raposo lands a combination. Nascimento is pressing forward and lands a right hand as Raposo circles. Nascimento lands a knee. 10-9 Nascimento, 19-19.
Raposo lands a right hand. They trade inside the pocket. Nascimento with a jumping knee. They tie up for a moment but break apart. Nascimento lands a right hand. They clinch and Nascimento lands some knees to the body before they break. Nascimento drops Raposo with a right hand and jumps on the top. Nascimento working from the top as he’s inside the guard of Raposo. Nascimento with an elbow from the top. Nascimento with more elbows. Nascimento still controlling from the top. Nascimento lands to the body and head. Nascimento lands more from the top. Raposo tries to scramble up but Nascimento keeps on top and lands more elbows. 10-9 Nascimento, 29-28 Nascimento.
Fight Result- Mitch Raposo def. Allan Nascimento by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
> Women’s Bantamweights- #13 Bia Mesquita (7-0, 2-0 UFC) vs. Melissa Mullins (7-2, 2-2 UFC)
Both feeling each other out as neither land in the first minute. Mullins lands a right hand. Mullins rocks Mesquita badly with some big punches and lands some knees to the body. Mesquita is able to grab a hold of Mullins, but Mullins scores a takedown. Mesquita lands from the bottom as she’s trying to get her legs up. Mullins lands but Mesquita snatches the arm and locks in an armbar and Mullins taps! What a comeback from Mesquita.
Fight Result- Bia Mesquita def. Melissa Mullins by submission (armbar) at 3:16 of Round 1
> Flyweights*- Andre Lima (11-0, 4-0 UFC) vs. Kevin Borjas (10-5, 1-4 UFC)
*Borjas missed weight by three pounds
Lima with a side kick. Lima with a front kick. Borjas not really throwing and is more just circling around. Borjas lands a right hand. Lima lands a pair of leg kicks. Lima with a right hand and Borjas throws a combo in response. Lima lands a calf kick. Lima with a double jab. Borjas with a combo. Lima with a high kick. Borjas lands a combination. Lima pressing forward and lands a right hand. Lima lands a combination. Borjas lands a combo. 10-9 Lima.
Lima lands a calf kick. They trade kicks but Lima’s kick lands to the cup of Borjas and timeout is called. Borjas is hurt and has been down for almost the entire five minute timeout period. Borjas says he can continue but he is clearly still hurting. Borjas lands a right hand. Lima lands a leg kick. Borjas lands a combination. Borjas with a spin kick. Lima with a leg kick. They trade punches. Lima lands a body kick and eats a combo from Borjas. They clinch against the fence. Lima controlling the clinch and lands an elbow as they break. Borjas with a combo to the body. Borjas with a combo and Lima lands a right hand. Borjas with a right hand to the body. 10-9 Borjas, 19-19.
Lima pressing forward as Borjas is circling away. Lima lands a leg kick. Borjas with a combo. Lima lands a right hand. Borjas with a combination. Borjas lands another combination. Lima lands a right hand. Lima lands a calf kick. Borjas with a quick combo. Lima lands and Borjas with a knee as they tie up. They separate. Lima lands a combination. Lima with a leg kick. Borjas with an uppercut. They clinch and Lima with some short knees. They are separated as Lima continually grabbed the fence. Lima lands a body kick. Lima with another body kick. Borjas lands a right hand. Close fight. 10-9 Borjas, 29-28 Borjas.
Fight Result- Kevin Borjas def. Andre Lima by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
MAIN CARD | 8 PM ET | 5 PM PT
> Featherweights- Andre Fili (25-13 1 NC, 14-11 1 NC UFC) vs. #12 BW Vinicius Oliveira (23-4, 4-1 UFC)
Oliveira lands a leg kick. Oliveira with more calf kicks. Oliveira lands a body kick and then a high kick. Oliveira lands a right hand followed by a calf kick. Oliveira lands a leg kick that Fili checks and Oliveira looks hurt. Fili lands a high kick. Oliveira lands to the body and then a leg kick. They trade right hands. Fili with a hard body kick and then hurts Oliveira with another one. Oliveira is in clear pain and Fili pounces. Fili lands a left hand and another body kick. Oliveira lands a right hand and they have an exchange in close range. Oliveira with a leg kick. They trade against the fence. They trade. 10-9 Fili.
Oliveira catches a kick and lands a flurry against the fence. Oliveira with a right hand and a leg kick. Oliveira lands a leg kick. Oliveira with a leg kick followed by a right hand. Fili lands a left hand then a body kick. Oliveira lands a right hand and a body shot. Oliveira with some leg kicks and he lands to the body. Fili gets a big takedown but they get right back up. Oliveira lands to the body and then to the head. Fili lands a right hand. Oliveira lands a big flurry against the fence, including some standing hammerfists. Oliveira with a leg kick and an uppercut. Oliveira with some punches against the fence. Oliveira lands a combo and then a head kick and goes back to the leg kick and connects with a big left hand. Oliveira with a big flurry of punches and leg kicks. Oliveira lands an uppercut and is teeing off against the fence landing punches and knees. Fili goes down and Oliveira keeps landing and it is stopped! What a finish by Oliveira!
Fight Result- Vinicius Oliveira def. Andre Fili by TKO (strikes) at 4:56 of Round 2
> Featherweights- Melsik Baghdasaryan (8-3, 3-2 UFC) vs. Murtazali Magomedov (10-0, 0-0 UFC)
Magomedov lands a leg kick. He lands another. Baghdasaryan lands to the body but then Magomedov lands a right hand. Magomedov grabs the back against the fence and gets the hooks on as they go to the mat. Baghdasaryan tries to spin but Magomedov locks in a twister of some sort and Baghdasaryan taps! A unique submission from Magomedov to pick up the win.
Fight Result- Murtazali Magomedov def. Melsik Baghdasaryan by submission (Twister) at 1:17 of Round 1
> Featherweights- Hyder Amil (11-2, 3-2 UFC) vs. Christian Rodriguez (12-4, 5-4 UFC)
Rodriguez lands to the body. Rodriguez with a right hand. Rodriguez lands a right hand and then a body kick. Rodriguez with a high kick. Amil lands some left hands. Rodriguez shoots for a takedown and has the back as they briefly go to the mat but scramble up. They start trading. Rodriguez drops Amil with a head kick and lands from the top but Amil is able to get up. Rodriguez then grabs the neck and locks in a guillotine choke and Amil goes out cold! A nasty finish by Rodriguez to pick up the win.
Fight Result- Christian Rodriguez def. Hyder Amil by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:43 of Round 1
> Light Heavyweights- Ion Cutelaba (20-11-1 1 NC, 9-10-1 UFC) vs. Navajo Stirling (9-0, 4-0 UFC)
Stirling with a high kick. Cutelaba throws a right hand that misses and they clinch up. Cutelaba grabs the neck and has a standing guillotine choke locked in. Cutelaba drops down looking for a mounted guillotine choke but Stirling is able to escape and they get to their feet. Stirling lands some knees but Cutelaba takes it down. Cutelaba lands some punches and now knees to the body. They stand and separate. Stirling lands a right hand. Stirling hurts Cutelaba with a right hand. Cutelaba was milking it like he has done before in the past. Cutelaba scores a takedown. They get up and Stirling hurts Cutelaba with some body shots. Stirling lands to the body and Cutelaba lands a left hook before tying it up. 10-9 Cutelaba.
They trade punches as Cutelaba lands a right hand. Stirling lands a big elbow as Cutelaba was coming forward. Stirling lands a big right hand. Stirling with a standing elbow and looks for a takedown against the fence. Stirling gets it down briefly and Cutelaba looks for a kimura. Cutelaba takes it down and still has control of the arm. Cutelaba loses the arm and lands some punches. They get to their feet and separate. Stirling lands a knee to the body then a right hand. Cutelaba gets the body lock and gets it down but Stirling scrambles to his feet and tees off from the top as Cutelaba is sitting down. Stirling lands some elbows and Cutelaba is just sitting there taking punishment and isn’t covering up and it is stopped.
Fight Result- Navajo Stirling def. Ion Cutelaba by TKO (strikes) at 3:23 of Round 2
> Flyweights- #2 Manel Kape (22-7, 7-3 UFC) vs. #5 Kyoji Horiguchi (36-5 1 NC, 9-1 UFC)
Horiguchi lands a body kick. They both land a leg kick. Kape lands an inside leg kick. Horiguchi lands a big right hand but Kape lands a counter left hand that stuns Horiguchi. Horiguchi lands a left hand as Kape was attempting a body kick. Kape lands as Horiguchi was ducking under for a takedown attempt. Horiguchi lands a body kick. Kape throws but Horiguchi ducks under and scores a takedown and finishes the round on top. 10-9 Horiguchi.
Horiguchi lands a body kick then a left hook that briefly hurts Kape. Horiguchi scores a takedown and gets into the half-guard. Horiguchi controlling and lands some short punches. Horiguchi lands an elbow. Kape with some elbows from the bottom. Horiguchi landing from the top as he continues to control from the half-guard. Horiguchi with some left hands and he stands late, but gets right back on top. 10-9 Horiguchi, 20-18 Horiguchi.
Horiguchi with a right hand then a knee. They both land in a wild exchange in close range. Horiguchi lands a head kick. Horiguchi with a right hand. Horiguchi lands a leg kick and is connecting with several right hands. Kape hurts Horiguchi with a right hand and they go to the mat and Kape starts landing big shots from the back and it is stopped! Kape gets the big finish to secure a potential title shot.
Fight Result- Manel Kape def. Kyoji Horiguchi by TKO (punches) at 2:42 of Round 3
MMA writer & live coverage specialist, contributor to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter