Returning to the UFC after almost a decade away, Kyoji Horiguchi reminded fans that he is still far and away one of the top flyweight fighters on the planet at UFC Qatar.
Kyoji Horiguchi Made Way Back to Octagon After Lengthy Hiatus Abroad
Making his first appearance in the promotion after 3,290 days, Kyoji Horiguchi was seen as a major attraction heading into the UFC’s debut event in Qatar. Exiting the company with an initial record of 7-1 inside the Octagon, the Japanese star went on a crusade in some of the other most notable organizations in the world, compiling a name for himself as a top athlete outside the UFC.
Signing with RIZIN in 2017, Kyoji Horiguchi established himself as arguably the greatest fighter in the promoter’s history, attaining both their flyweight and bantamweight titles. He would also go on to pick up a bevy of sterling wins over other top names such as past and future flyweight contenders Manel Kape, Ian McCall, and Kai Asakura.
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Kyoji Horiguchi also briefly fought under the Bellator banner in the early years of the 2020s, earning that promotion’s bantamweight strap in the process with an impressive performance over Darrion Caldwell. He’d also go on to avenge a loss to Sergio Pettis in 2024 after suffering the first knockout setback of his professional career to the Wisconsin native back in 2021.
Kyoji Horiguchi Shines in UFC Comeback Match in Middle East
Making the trip out to Qatar for his much-anticipated walk to the UFC cage, Horiguchi was tasked with kicking off the main card of the show, with his dance partner being the elite Tagir Ulanbekov. Losing just twice during his then 19-fight journey as a professional, he was, and still is, one of the most stalwart flyweights in the company. Riding a four-bout winning streak at the time of his contest in the Middle East, the Dagestani was looking to catapult himself up the ranks with a mammoth win over the impeccable Japanese.
Despite the very clear height and reach disadvantage, Horiguchi positively dominated Ulanbekov over the course of their three round meeting, landing over 100 strikes to the Russian’s measly ten. The former RIZIN champion also racked up over five minutes of control time, looking dominant everywhere the fight took place. It was then late in the third that Horiguchi managed to lock in the rear naked choke, handing Ulanbekov both the first submission defeat and his first stoppage loss of his combat sports career.
