Welcome back to the UFC, Kyoji Horiguchi.
Kyoji Horiguchi, a former Bellator and Rizin champion, is making his highly anticipated return to the UFC octagon after a nine-year absence. Once considered among the elite fighters outside the UFC, Horiguchi departed the promotion in 2016 with an impressive 7-1 record.
His only defeat in the Octagon came in 2015 to the legendary flyweight Demetrious Johnson, who secured a submission victory in the final seconds of their title bout. Since that fight, Horiguchi has maintained a formidable record of 19-3 (1 NC).
The 34-year-old re-signed with the UFC earlier this year and is now set to face a top contender in his comeback fight, marking nearly a decade since his last UFC appearance.
Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Tagir Ulanbekov Confirmed for UFC Qatar
UFC Qatar continues to build an exciting fight card. The event, scheduled for November 22, will feature a high-stakes flyweight bout between Kyoji Horiguchi and #12-ranked contender Tagir Ulanbekov, who is notably coached by the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov. This matchup was first reported by Léo Guimaraes.
Just recently, UFC CEO Dana White announced a blockbuster double-header for UFC Qatar, including Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker and Belal Muhammad vs. Ian Machado Garry, both serving as No. 1 contender fights.
The Horiguchi vs. Ulanbekov fight was initially planned for UFC Baku in June but was postponed after Horiguchi withdrew due to injury. Ulanbekov (17-2) boasts an impressive 6-1 record in the UFC and is currently riding a four-fight win streak in the 125 lbs division, positioning him firmly for a potential title opportunity against Alexandre Pantoja.
Ilia Topuria’s Brother, Aleksandre, Also Set to Fight at UFC Qatar
Adding more excitement to the UFC Qatar card, Aleksandre Topuria, the brother of reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria, will also be making his second UFC appearance. He is slated to face Kazakhstan’s Bekzat Almakhan (12-2) on the undercard.
Almakhan previously made his UFC debut against the then-undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov, where he suffered a decision loss despite managing to drop his opponent during the fight. Since then, Almakhan has rebounded with a TKO victory over two-time ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ winner Brad Katona.
Aleksandre Topuria, with a professional record of 6-1 (five of which are finishes), secured a win in his UFC debut against Colby Thicknesse at UFC 312 in February.
