Welcome back to the UFC, Kyoji Horiguchi.
Kyoji Horiguchi, a fighter widely regarded as one of the most elite talents outside the UFC, is finally making his much-anticipated return to the premier mixed martial arts promotion. The former Bellator and Rizin champion, who last competed in the UFC in 2016, amassed an impressive 7-1 record during his initial run. His only defeat inside the Octagon came at the hands of flyweight legend Demetrious Johnson, where he was submitted in the very last second of their 2015 title clash. Since that memorable fight, Horiguchi has maintained an outstanding record of 19-3 (1 NC).
The 34-year-old Japanese standout re-signed with the UFC earlier this year. His comeback bout is set to be against a top contender, marking his first UFC appearance in nearly a decade.
Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Tagir Ulanbekov Added to Stacked UFC Qatar Card
The upcoming UFC Qatar event is rapidly shaping up to be a must-watch spectacle. Just recently, UFC CEO Dana White unveiled a blockbuster double-header for November 22nd, featuring pivotal No. 1 contender clashes: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker, and Belal Muhammad vs. Ian Machado Garry. Further enhancing this thrilling card, Kyoji Horiguchi is scheduled to collide with the #12-ranked flyweight contender Tagir Ulanbekov, a fighter notably coached by the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov.
This intriguing flyweight contest was originally slated for UFC Baku in June but was postponed due to an injury sustained by Horiguchi. Ulanbekov (17-2), representing Dagestan, boasts an impressive 6-1 record within the UFC. He is currently on a four-fight win streak in the 125 lbs division, and a dominant victory could position him mere wins away from a coveted title opportunity against current champion Alexandre Pantoja.
Aleksandre Topuria, Ilia Topuria`s Brother, Also Set for UFC Qatar
Adding more excitement to the UFC Qatar lineup, Aleksandre Topuria, the brother of reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria, is slated for his sophomore appearance in the UFC. Topuria is set to face Kazakhstan`s Bekzat Almakhan (12-2) on the preliminary card next month. Almakhan notably made an impactful UFC debut, dropping a then-undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov, though he ultimately succumbed to a lopsided decision loss last year. Since that fight, Almakhan has rebounded impressively with a TKO victory over two-time ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ winner Brad Katona. Aleksandre Topuria, who holds a professional record of 6-1 with five finishes, secured his own UFC debut victory against Colby Thicknesse at UFC 312 in February.
Neville Whittle