Kyoji Horiguchi - News & Rumors - UFC

Out for UFC Baku Horiguchi (undisclosed) will not fight Tagir Ulanbekov at UFC Baku on June 21, according to Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.

Impact There were two months between Dorff's announcement of the Horiguchi-Ulanbekov fight and when it was supposed to happen, but sandwiched between both was an unfortunate occurrence that caused Horiguchi's recent withdrawal. In his place is Azat Maksum.

MAY 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Gets UFC debut Horiguchi will fight Tagir Ulanbekov at UFC Baku on Jun. 21, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.

Impact Horiguchi will finally make it to the big stage with a 34-5 professional record and nearly 15 years of fighting experience, fighting for and owning titles under the banners of respected promotions such as Bellator and RIZIN. He'll take on a tough opponent in Ulanbekov, who is coming off a three-match win streak and has only lost one of his six UFC matchups.

APRIL 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Alexandre Pantoja or Kyoji Horiguchi? Demetrious Johnson would favor UFC champion Demetrious Johnson doesn’t see Kyoji Horiguchi being the one to dethrone UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.

APRIL 2, 2025 • USATODAY.COM

Who is Kyoji Horiguchi, the fighter UFC just re-signed? Age, nationality, record, and more on the RIZIN legend who once challenged Demetrious Johnson Kyoji Horiguchi is back on the UFC roster following a lengthy stint in different promotions worldwide.

MARCH 31, 2025 • SPORTSKEEDA.COM

Signs with UFC Horiguchi has signed with the UFC, according to Guilherme Cruz of MMAFighting.com.

Impact Horiguchi won the RIZIN Flyweight Championship in 2023 and maintained the title for a year before announcing he would vacate it to rejoin the UFC. The 34-year-old's last UFC fight was in 2016, when he capped off a three-fight win streak before signing with RIZIN.

MARCH 30, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

UFC Signs Kyoji Horiguchi, Why These Stars Should Be Worried The UFC’s flyweight division remains fiercely competitive, consistently showcasing top-tier talent.

MARCH 29, 2025 • KANSASCITY.COM

RIZIN 45 official with Kyoji Horiguchi, John Dodson, Juan Archuelta and more RIZIN’s New Year’s Eve event features a handful of names notable to North American MMA fans.

OCTOBER 26, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Kyoji Horiguchi wants Makoto Shinryu rematch after no contest for inaugural Bellator flyweight title Kyoji Horiguchi wants to run things back with Makoto Shinryu after their no contest at Bellator x Rizin 2.

JULY 31, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Bellator x Rizin 2 results: Kyoji Horiguchi-Makoto Shinryu title fight ruined by accidental eye poke Bellator officially has a men’s flyweight division – but it still doesn’t have a champion after an unfortunate turn of events.

JULY 30, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Kyoji Horiguchi on Makoto Shinryu: 'Technically, I feel like I'm more superior' During the Bellator X Rizin 2 news conference Thursday evening, Kyoji Horiguchi answered questions from the media.

JULY 28, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM

Kyoji Horiguchi on Makoto Shinryu: 'Technically, I feel like I'm more superior' During the Bellator X Rizin 2 news conference Thursday evening, Kyoji Horiguchi answered questions from the media.

JULY 28, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Bellator X Rizin 2 to feature AJ McKee vs. Patricky Freiere, Kyoji Horiguchi in inaugural men's flyweight title fight Bellator returns to Japan in July to continue the lightweight world grand prix and crown an inaugural men’s flyweight champion.

MAY 27, 2023 • USATODAY.COM

Ray Borg vs. Kyoji Horiguchi scrapped from Bellator 295, Hawaii's Yancy Medeiros moved to main card Saturday’s second of back-to-back Bellator shows in Hawaii has lost a main card fight just hours before the official weigh-ins.

APRIL 21, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Kyoji Horiguchi hopes Bellator launches men's flyweight division Could a flyweight division be headed to Bellator MMA soon? Kyoji Horiguchi hopes so.

APRIL 21, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Ray Borg: Beating Kyoji Horiguchi at Bellator 295 will throw me right in the title mix “I don’t see why winning this fight wouldn’t throw me right in that mix.”

APRIL 20, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Ray Borg to make Bellator debut vs. Kyoji Horiguchi on April 22 in Hawaii Kyoji Horiguchi will welcome fellow UFC veteran Ray Borg to the Bellator cage.

MARCH 8, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Jan. 3: Kyoji Horiguchi on the rise at flyweight Kyoji Horiguchi returned to flyweight and placed himself back in the rankings with a win at Bellator vs. Rizin FF on New Year’s Eve.

JANUARY 4, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

John Dodson wants Rizin FF bout vs. Kyoji Horiguchi: 'He has to be my stepping stone' John Dodson is hoping to fight fellow former UFC title challenger Kyoji Horiguchi now under the Rizin FF banner.

JANUARY 2, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

After long bantamweight run, Kyoji Horiguchi happy with flyweight return Former Bellator and Rizin champion Kyoji Horiguchi beat Hiromasa Ougikubo for a third time Saturday in Japan.

JANUARY 2, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Kyoji Horiguchi: Hiromasa Ougikubo improved, but I should be able to 'dominate him in every aspect' “I should be able to control him and dominate him in every aspect.”

DECEMBER 29, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Kyoji Horiguchi knows dangers of fighting opponent he's beat twice already at Bellator vs. Rizin event Kyoji Horiguchi saw what happened to teammate Kayla Harrison fighting an opponent for a third time after being up 2-0.

DECEMBER 20, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

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