Kyoji Horiguchi is returning to the UFC greater than eight years after leaving the group.
The Japanese combined martial arts star introduced Sunday at RIZIN 50, an MMA occasion that came about in Kagawa, that he’s vacating his RIZIN flyweight title and re-signing with the UFC.
The 34-year-old can also be a former one-time Bellator MMA bantamweight champion. Horiguchi has competed at each 135 kilos (bantamweight) and 125 kilos (flyweight) all through his skilled profession and is unbeaten since 2022. He has not misplaced while competing at flyweight since a 2015 UFC title battle.
Horiguchi debuted within the UFC in 2013 and amassed a 4-0 file earlier than shedding in a title battle to former longtime 125-pound champion Demetrious Johnson in the principle occasion of UFC 186 again in April of 2015. Horiguchi, who was solely 24 on the time, was submitted with a highlight-reel armbar within the literal final second of the ultimate spherical in top-of-the-line finishes of Johnson’s illustrious preventing profession.
The gifted member of American High Staff adopted up his championship loss to “Mighty Mouse” with consecutive choice wins over Chico Camus, Neil Seery and Ali Bagautinov earlier than leaving the UFC and debuting with RIZIN in 2017.
Horiguchi stretched his post-UFC successful streak to double digits, however had it snapped by Kai Asakura in 2019.
Asakura, additionally a former RIZIN titleholder, signed with the UFC late final yr and made his organizational debut in December within the UFC 310 primary occasion, shedding by second-round submission to reigning flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja.
Horiguchi avenged that loss to Asakura lower than 5 months later and holds notable victories over previous Bellator champions Sergio Pettis and Darrion Caldwell, plus a 2017 submission win over present No. 6-ranked UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape.
The RIZIN group introduced it can maintain a flyweight grand prix match later this yr to assist crown a brand new champion within the division to succeed Horiguchi.
The UFC has but to make an official announcement about Horiguchi’s return. It’s unclear when and towards whom his subsequent battle will happen.
Source link
