Kyoji Horiguchi News

Cole Shelton - June 17, 2026

Kyoji Horiguchi plans to make a statement at UFC Vegas 119. Horiguchi is set to rematch Manel Kape on Saturday in a pivotal fight at flyweight. It also serves as a rematch of their fight back in 2017 in RIZIN, which Horiguchi won by submission.

Dylan Bowker - February 12, 2026

Kyoji Horiguchi is a well-traveled combatant and the ranked UFC flyweight, even previously threw down with the current BKFC welterweight champion. Dustin Pague is the gloveless titleholder in question, and Pague had a fight with Kyoji Horiguchi in MMA years back. When asked for his thoughts on Horiguchi’s return to the UFC that has seen him reinserted into the flyweight contendership conversation in a big way, Dustin Pague said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 8, 2026

Kyoji Horiguchi is eyeing gold and following his UFC Vegas 113 victory, that desire isn’t going away anytime soon. Horiguchi and Albazi went one-on-one in a pivotal flyweight bout this past Saturday. It was the “Karate Kid’s” second fight since returning to UFC. Horiguchi stopped Tagir Ulanbekov via technical submission in his UFC return back in Nov. 2025, and he’s now a cool 2-0 since coming back.

Chris Taylor - February 7, 2026

We have you covered for all of tonight’s UFC Vegas 113 results, including the flyweight co-main event between Kyoji Horiguchi and Amir Albazi. Albazi (17-3 MMA) will be returning to action for the first time since dropping a decision to former flyweight kingpin Brandon Moreno in November of 2024.  Prior to that setback, ‘The Prince’ had reeled off six-straight wins, a stretch which included  victories over Alessandro Costa and Kai Kara-France.

Harry Kettle - February 5, 2026

MMA veteran Kyoji Horiguchi isn’t worried about possibly having to wait for a shot at the UFC flyweight championship. When it comes to the smaller weight classes, few current fighters are as respected as Kyoji Horiguchi. In addition to his initial run in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, he also went on to have an incredible stint outside of the promotion too. Now that he’s back, he wants to really push to try and become a UFC champion, and that goal will be a lot more realistic if he can beat Amir Albazi this weekend.

Curtis Calhoun - December 15, 2025

Former UFC flyweight title challenger Kyoji Horiguchi could secure another shot at the belt with a win in his upcoming fight. UFC flyweight contender Kyoji Horiguchi’s return to the promotion has greatly exceeded the expectations of fans and pundits. After finding success in Rizin and Bellator following an up-and-down first UFC stint, the UFC gave Horiguchi another opportunity to make a run at the title, winning his promotional return earlier this year at UFC Qatar.

Harry Kettle - November 24, 2025

UFC star Kyoji Horiguchi has explained his current confidence levels after his successful return to the promotion. After many years away from the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Kyoji Horiguchi made a triumphant return at UFC Qatar last weekend. A lot of fans and pundits weren’t quite sure how he would perform at this stage in his career, but at the age of 35, he was able to make it crystal clear that he is here to stay with an emphatic finish over Tagir Ulanbekov.

Chris Taylor - November 22, 2025

We have you covered for all of today’s UFC Qatar results, including the men’s flyweight bout between Kyoji Horiguchi and Tagir Ulanbekov. Horiguchi (35-5 MMA) is returning to the Octagon for the first time since 2016. ‘The Typhoon’ was most previously seen in MMA action last December in Japan, where he successfully defended the RIZIN Flyweight Championship with a unanimous decision win over Nkazimulo Zulu. The 35-year-old veteran has gone 5-0-1 over his last five fights overall.

Curtis Calhoun - October 2, 2025

Former UFC flyweight title challenger Kyoji Horiguchi will return to the Octagon for the promotion’s inaugural event in Qatar next month. It’s been more than 10 years since flyweight Kyoji Horiguchi lost to Demetrious Johnson by a last-second armbar in his lone UFC title fight. Since parting ways with the UFC in 2017, Horiguchi earned titles in Rizin and Bellator, reaffirming himself as one of the best flyweights in modern MMA.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 16, 2025

Kyoji Horiguchi has no problem fighting Alexandre Pantoja for the right price and prize. Horiguchi and Pantoja are longtime training partners. The two have been able to avoid fighting one another, as Horiguchi had been competing under the Rizin banner. Now that Horiguchi has returned to the UFC, it’s left the door open to fight Pantoja, who happens to be the reigning UFC Flyweight Champion.

Josh Evanoff - April 4, 2025

UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja has no issues with fighting Kyoji Horiguchi. ‘The Cannibal’ was last seen in the octagon in the main event of UFC 310 in December. That night in Las Vegas saw Alexandre Pantoja dominate the newly signed Kai Asakura, ultimately securing a second-round submission win. As of now, the Brazilian remains unbooked. However, has been linked to a clash with Kai Kara-France this summer at International Fight Week.

Josh Evanoff - March 20, 2025

According to a recent report from Ariel Helwani, RIZIN champion Kyoji Horiguchi is nearing a deal to return to the UFC. ‘The Typhoon’ hasn’t been in the RIZIN ring since his title defense against Nkazimulo Zulu in December. Back for the first time since his lopsided decision win over Sergio Pettis last summer, he handed ‘Zulu Boy’ a unanimous decision loss. The win moved Kyoji Horiguchi’s unbeaten streak to seven, and was also his first defense of flyweight gold. However, that will likely go down as his last appearance in the Japanese promotion.

Josh Evanoff - April 19, 2024

Kyoji Horiguchi will get the chance to avenge a loss to Sergio Pettis later this summer in RIZIN. ‘The Typhoon’ is fresh off a rematch with Makoto Takahashi at RIZIN 45 in December. That fight was his second in a row with the Japanese fighter, previously fighting to a no-contest in July that ended in an eye poke. In the second bout, Kyoji Horiguchi wasted no time, securing a second-round submission victory.

Josh Evanoff - January 11, 2024

RIZIN flyweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi reportedly plans to return to the UFC. ‘The Typhoon’ is fresh off his return at RIZIN 45 in December. There, Kyoji Horiguchi fought Makamoto Takahashi, in a rematch of their July bout. Their first bout for the vacant Bellator flyweight title ended after just seconds, due to an eye poke. Due to the Scott Coker company being bought out by the PFL, they instead ran it back for RIZIN gold this time around.

Chris Taylor - December 4, 2021

Kyoji Horiguchi has provided fans with an update following his nasty knockout loss to Sergio Pettis last night at Bellator 272. Pettis (21-5 MMA) and Horiguchi (29-3 MMA) squared off yesterday evening in Connecticut with the Bellator bantamweight title on the line.

Chris Taylor - December 3, 2021

Tonight’s Bellator 272 event was headlined by a highly anticipated title fight featuring Sergio Pettis taking on Kyoji Horiguchi. Pettis (21-5 MMA) was looking to earn his first career title defense when he took on former champion Horiguchi (29-3 MMA) this evening.

Drake Riggs - November 24, 2021

Kyoji Horiguchi is a man on a mission. The current RIZIN FF 135-pound bantamweight king recaptured the title he never officially lost on New Year’s Eve 2020 and hasn’t fought since. Now, Horiguchi has signed with Bellator in a rare deal that sees him remain the RIZIN champ and seeks the other title he relinquished when sidelined in all of 2020 recovering from an ACL tear.

Drake Riggs - October 20, 2021

RIZIN bantamweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi is set to attempt to reclaim the title he never lost. Bellator announced on Wednesday that their newest Bellator 135-pound champion in Sergio Pettis has his next challenger. Pettis will defend against the RIZIN titlist in Horiguchi on Dec. 3 at Bellator 272 in Uncasville, Connecticut.