After a phenomenal showing in the second bout of his return to the promotion last weekend, Kyoji Horiguchi has solidified his place as a top contender in the UFC’s flyweight division, but is he the man to dethrone Joshua Van?

Kyoji Horiguchi Putting Division on Notice Over Last Three Months

In early 2025, Kyoji Horiguchi drummed up a large amount of anticipation from fight fans after it was announced that he’d be rejoining the UFC following an almost 10-year absence. The Japanese sensation did not disappoint in his eventual comeback with the company later that year at UFC Fight Night 265, where he soundly submitted Tagir Ulanbekov in the third round.

He then added even more to his astounding warpath through the weight class this past weekend when he battered the elite Amir Albazi at UFC Vegas 113, pummeling him with his shocking speed and precise punches.

 

In just two scraps, Kyoji Horiguchi has left a pair of some of the most talented flyweight competitors dismantled in his wake, skyrocketing up the rankings to the No. 5 spot as of this writing. Given the level of domination in his last few cage appearances, and his background as a high-caliber fighter overseas, there is a strong possibility that “Karate Kid” could earn the next shot at challenging for the 125-lb belt sometime later in 2026. It begs to wonder, however, how would the seasoned Kyoji Horiguchi fare against the young and surging Joshua Van?

Van Captured Championship Following Strong Period of Activity, Incredible Results

At just 24 years of age, and on a six-bout winning streak, current flyweight king Van’s ascension to the summit of his division can only be described as meteoric. When he was unfortunately knocked out by Charles Johnson in a stunning upset loss in 2024, it was hard to imagine that he was going to bounce back in the amazing fashion that he did.

Learning from the loss in spades, “The Fearless” proceeded to win his next five contests in a row, which included an electrifying split decision victory over perennial contender Brandon Royval at UFC 317, which earned him a shot at then 125-lb gold standard Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 323.

Despite staring down a man who had previously defended his belt five times, and was widely considered one of the greatest pound-for-pound competitors in the world, Van was more than eager to test himself in the most important fight of his life. While the wait for the match had been a gradual build up of excitement and anticipation over the course of a couple of months, the bout ended very quickly, as Pantoja suffered an injury to his arm after attempting to post with it during a takedown from Van. This forced the referee to end the tilt via TKO, making Van the new UFC Flyweight Champion. 

Does Kyoji Horiguchi Have What it Takes to Topple Dominant Van?

At this point in time, Van is not scheduled to defend his throne, nor are any of the other top five contenders booked for any fights. But, if by chance Kyoji Horiguchi is selected as the one to contend for gold next, could he be the one to hand Van his second ever setback? 

For newer UFC and MMA fans, many may not be familiar with Kyoji Horiguchi’s earlier stint with the organization, or his time fighting on the competitive international circuit. Making his initial debut in the UFC back in 2013, the Japanese swept past his first four opponents to come to blows with then flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson, losing to the American at 4:59 of the fifth and final round by armbar.

He then fought three more times in the promotion before setting out to join venerable Eastern fighting company RIZIN in 2017. Under their banner, Horiguchi thrived as an athlete to watch, securing the RIZIN flyweight and bantamweight straps on multiple occasions. 

Kyoji Horiguchi also briefly competed in Bellator during his post-UFC tenure, logging five matches with them. The highlight of that short run came in 2019 when he bested Darrion Caldwell by decision to gain the 135-lb championship. 

In terms of experience, fight IQ and endurance, Horiguchi stands as the toughest challenger to Van’s place at the head of the pack at 125-lb. Showcasing his supremely fast footwork and hand speed in his confrontation with Albazi, the American Top Team product could pose a serious threat to the champion on the feet.

He also has a significant edge in the grappling department, owning six wins by submission, including an arm-triangle choke over Manel Kape. 

Van, however, comes with his own set of impeccable abilities as well, most notably possessing one of the best gas tanks in the entire UFC. This absurd level of cardio was perfectly shown in his UFC 317 clash with Brandon Royval, garnering over 200 blows over the course of the 15-minute bout. In fact, the Burmese often finds himself recording triple digit striking numbers, netting at least 100 significant strikes in four of his last six fights. Although his grappling remains untested for the most part, Van can make Horiguchi’s night a complete nightmare should he manage to keep the contest off the canvas.