Kyoji Horiguchi Interested In UFC Return In 2025

betus logoLogin to View Offers!Check Offers
mybookie.ag logoLogin to View Offers!Check Offers
shuffle logoBest UFC Crytpo Betting!Check Offers
xbet logoLogin to View Offers!Check Offers
sportsbetting.ag logoLogin to View Offers!Check Offers
betonline.ag logoLogin to View Offers!Check Offers

Kyoji Horiguchi surprisingly left the UFC in 2016 despite holding a 7-1 record there, but it seems he’s now interesting in returning to the Octagon in the year to come. “It was my decision [to leave the UFC], I made this decision, so I have no regrets,” Horiguchi told MMA Fighting [translated]. “But I do ...

Kyoji Horiguchi surprisingly left the UFC in 2016 despite holding a 7-1 record there, but it seems he’s now interesting in returning to the Octagon in the year to come.

“It was my decision [to leave the UFC], I made this decision, so I have no regrets,” Horiguchi told MMA Fighting [translated]. “But I do have the feeling of wanting to making another challenge in the UFC.”

Horiguchi already held an 11-1 record when he first joined the UFC back in 2013 and he consistently impressed during his time in the promotion, with his only loss being a last second armbar submission defeat in a title fight with Demetrious Johnson in 2015.

After deciding to move on to pastures new in 2016, Horiguchi went on to become a star in the Rizin promotion, winning their 2017 bantamweight grand-prix, and becoming a two-time bantamweight champion, as well as also winning Bellator’s bantamweight title as well at one stage.

While he no longer holds either title, he is currently Rizin’s inaugural flyweight champion and will be defending his title at the promotion’s new year’s eve event in Saitama, Japan.

If Horiguchi did return to the UFC then he would almost certainly find himself on a collision course with his teammate and current flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, but he doesn’t see that as a big issue.

“We kind of talk about it in the gym,” Horiguchi said. “We joke around and I tell them that I can beat you up anytime, I’ll beat you up and stuff like that. You know, we kind of joke around. But you know, if it’s a title fight, I think the gym would have to accept it. It is what it is and it’s what we do. If it happens, I think we could make it happen.”

Ross Cole
Ross launched MMA Insight (previously FightOfTheNight.com) in 2009 as a way to channel his passion for the sport of mixed martial arts. He's since penned countless news stories and live fight reports along with dozens of feature articles as the lead writer for the site, reaching millions of fans in the process.

More UFC News

UFC On ESPN 66 Weigh-In Results And Video

The UFC On ESPN 66 weigh-ins have now concluded in Kansas City and you can see what all the fighters tipped the scales at ...

UFC On ESPN 66 Predictions

UFC On ESPN 66 takes place tomorrow night in Kansas City and we’ve got our predictions for all the fights below. Main Card Ian ...

Dricus du Plessis Denies Being Injured; Fight Announcement Coming Soon

UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has shot down a rumor that he’s currently injured, while stating that his next fight should be getting ...