It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. Kyoji Horiguchi, the 34-year-old Japanese MMA veteran from Kanagawa Prefecture, choked out Tagir Ulanbekov at 2:18 of Round 3 in front of a roaring crowd at Lusail Sports Arena in Lusail, Qatar on Saturday, November 22, 2025. The technical submission — a rear-naked choke after a devastating left hand and near-knockout head kick — wasn’t just his first fight back in the UFC since 2016. It was the thunderous re-entry of a man who once nearly owned the flyweight division, and now, he’s not hiding his ambitions.
From Injury to Iron Will
Horiguchi’s return wasn’t just delayed — it was nearly derailed. After tearing his ACL in a September 2023 bout against Makoto Shinryu, he spent over a year rehabbing, watching from the sidelines as the flyweight division evolved without him. The UFC, according to President Dana White, had been chasing him for nearly two years. "We knew he was coming back," White said during a February 3, 2025 press conference at the UFC Apex in Enterprise, Nevada. "He’s the kind of fighter who doesn’t just win fights — he defines eras." He vacated his RIZIN Fighting Federation bantamweight and flyweight titles in March 2024, citing injury complications. His formal signing with the UFC on January 17, 2025, was a seismic shift in the global MMA landscape. For years, Horiguchi had been the face of RIZIN — headlining 11 straight events in Saitama, drawing crowds of nearly 15,000. Now, he’s back where he started, but with a decade of hard-won experience under his belt.The Fight That Changed Everything
The bout against Ulanbekov was never supposed to be this dramatic. Originally scheduled for June 2025, both fighters withdrew — Horiguchi due to lingering shoulder soreness, Ulanbekov due to visa issues. When they finally met in Qatar, the world got a masterclass in resilience. Round one: Horiguchi controlled distance, landed sharp leg kicks. Round two: Ulanbekov pressured, landed a few heavy shots, but couldn’t break the Japanese veteran’s composure. Then, round three happened. A crisp left hook dropped Ulanbekov. Horiguchi surged forward — and unleashed a spinning head kick that sent the Russian stumbling. The crowd gasped. Ulanbekov barely stayed on his feet. Horiguchi pounced, locked in the rear-naked choke from behind, and squeezed. Ulanbekov tapped. The ref waved it off. Silence, then pandemonium. "I didn’t come back to fight for rankings," Horiguchi told Jon Anik in his post-fight interview at 9:45 PM AST. "I came back to fight for the belt. Where’s Pantoja? He’s my teammate. Doesn’t matter. I’ll beat your expletive." The crowd erupted. Even the UFC broadcast team paused. This wasn’t just trash talk — it was a declaration.
Training Grounds and Title Fights
Horiguchi trains at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, under coach Marcus "Conan" Silveira. He shares the 45,000-square-foot facility with reigning flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja. The two spar daily. They know each other’s moves. And now, they’re on a collision course. According to UFC Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Epstein, who confirmed the data on November 23, 2025, the fight generated 1.2 million global viewers across ESPN+ and international broadcasters — with 387,000 pay-per-view buys in Japan alone. That’s more than any UFC event in Japan since 2019. "Horiguchi’s marketability isn’t just about his record," Epstein told reporters. "It’s about his legacy. He’s the bridge between Pride, RIZIN, and the UFC. When he fights, people remember why they fell in love with MMA." His professional record now stands at 31-5 with 1 no contest. Victories over Kai Asakura (twice), Sergio Pettis, and Manel Kape cemented his status as a global star. His Bellator MMA bantamweight title — held from 2021 to 2022 — was vacated after the promotion’s acquisition by the Professional Fighters League in November 2023.What’s Next? The Road to UFC 310
Epstein confirmed that the UFC is targeting UFC 310Las Vegas on December 7, 2025, for the Horiguchi-Pantoja title unification. Contractual negotiations must be finalized by November 30, 2025. Medical clearance is pending, but sources say Horiguchi passed his post-fight physical with flying colors. If it happens, it’ll be the first time in UFC history that two teammates from the same gym fight for the same title. It’s messy. It’s personal. And it’s exactly what fans crave.
Why This Matters
Horiguchi’s return isn’t just about one fighter. It’s about the globalization of MMA. He’s the rare athlete who thrived in Japan’s RIZIN, America’s UFC, and America’s Bellator — three different systems, three different cultures, one relentless will. His success proves that elite fighters don’t need to choose between regional promotions anymore. They can build legacies across borders. And now, he’s standing at the top of the mountain — not just as a contender, but as a man who’s earned every ounce of it.Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kyoji Horiguchi leave the UFC in 2016?
After losing his UFC flyweight title shot to Demetrious Johnson in 2016, Horiguchi felt the organization wasn’t giving him the opportunities he deserved. He left with a 7-1 UFC record and went on to dominate RIZIN and Bellator, becoming a global star outside the UFC’s spotlight. His return in 2025 marks a full-circle moment.
How does Horiguchi’s record compare to Alexandre Pantoja’s?
Horiguchi’s record stands at 31-5 (1 NC), with wins over elite names across three major promotions. Pantoja is 28-4, with 10 successful UFC title defenses — the most in flyweight history. While Pantoja has more UFC experience, Horiguchi brings more international pedigree and a more varied skill set from his RIZIN and Bellator years.
What impact did Horiguchi’s return have on Japanese MMA fans?
His fight drew 387,000 PPV buys in Japan — the highest for any UFC event in the country since 2019. Social media trends in Japan spiked with #HoriguchiBack and #UFCJapan, and RIZIN’s official website saw a 200% traffic increase the day after the fight. He’s a national icon, and his return rekindled interest in MMA across the country.
Could Horiguchi lose the title if he beats Pantoja?
No — if Horiguchi defeats Pantoja, he becomes the undisputed UFC flyweight champion. The belt doesn’t change hands based on gym affiliation. Even though they train together, the UFC treats this as a standard title fight. The only complication? Their training dynamic will never be the same.
Why didn’t Horiguchi fight at Bellator x RIZIN 2 in 2023?
He was recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in late 2022 and had already begun negotiations with the UFC. RIZIN’s event featured unification bouts between other champions, but Horiguchi’s titles were already in limbo. He officially vacated them in March 2024, confirming his focus was on the UFC return.
What’s the significance of Horiguchi training with Pantoja?
It’s unprecedented. Two UFC title contenders from the same gym, one the reigning champ, the other the challenger — and they spar daily. It creates a unique tension: Pantoja knows Horiguchi’s habits better than anyone, but Horiguchi has trained under multiple systems and could exploit Pantoja’s predictability. The mental game might be the real fight.