A fighter who has faced Kyoji Horiguchi three times believes he is positioned for significant accomplishments upon his return to the UFC fighting arena.
This particular fighter is Hiromasa Ougikubo, fresh off his victory in the Rizin flyweight grand prix and securing the vacant RFF flyweight championship, a title Horiguchi relinquished after committing to the UFC again, during Rizin’s yearly New Year’s Eve event held weeks prior.
Asked for his perspective on the crucial flyweight bout featuring Horiguchi versus Albazi scheduled for the upcoming weekend at UFC Vegas 113, Ougikubo stated [as reported by Bowks Talking Bouts],
“My prediction is that Horiguchi will assert control, and I believe he will likely conclude the match against him [Amir Albazi] with a knockout.”
Upon acknowledging the Rizin 125-pound division’s current titleholder’s strong conviction in his forecast for this important match within his division, taking place on Saturday at the Meta Apex, Ougikubo replied [from Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Yes, naturally, he has defeated me on three occasions. Therefore, I possess a clear understanding of the extent of harm he can inflict upon an adversary. I have observed Amir Albazi’s performances, and without diminishing his abilities in any way, I simply believe Horiguchi possesses a significantly superior overall skill set compared to him.”
Kyoji Horiguchi Aims to Solidify His Place as Japan’s Inaugural UFC Champion
Kyoji Horiguchi seeks to forge a legacy for Japanese mixed martial arts and secure his position in the annals of UFC history. However, the ex-Bellator MMA bantamweight champion is currently in a rivalry with a compatriot. Tatsuro Taira is also rapidly ascending through the UFC’s flyweight standings independently. During the pre-bout media session before his confrontation with Albazi, Horiguchi modestly stated that the idea of being the very first Japanese mixed martial artist to claim a UFC championship did not excessively concern him.
Upon the discussion of Taira’s advancement, Kyoji Horiguchi jested that it would not significantly impact him whether he became the initial or subsequent fighter from Japan to acquire a UFC championship, only that he would ultimately secure the title.
The ex-Rizin titleholder had previously vied for the UFC championship, as Horiguchi faced Demetrious Johnson for his flyweight strap, with Johnson securing a submission victory over Horiguchi at UFC 186 in April of 2015.
