Kyoji Horiguchi is someone who is poised to do some great things in his return to the UFC octagon, according to a former three-time opponent of Horiguchi\u2019s.<\/p>\n
That combatant in question is Hiromasa Ougikubo, who is on the heels of winning the Rizin flyweight grand prix, as well as the vacant RFF flyweight title Horiguchi left behind upon re-signing to the UFC, at Rizin\u2019s annual New Year\u2019s Eve show a few weeks back.<\/p>\n
When asked for his thoughts on this key flyweight fight this weekend with Horiguchi vs. Albazi at UFC Vegas 113, Ougikubo said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I predict that Horiguchi will dominate and I think he\u2019s probably going to finish him [Amir Albazi]. Knock him out.\u201d<\/p>\n
When it was mentioned that the reigning kingpin of Rizin\u2019s 125-pound class was emphatically confident in predicting this consequential contest in his weight class which is set for Saturday at the Meta Apex, Ougikubo responded [via Bowks Talking Bouts],<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah so obviously he\u2019s beaten me three times. So I know what kind of damage he can do to somebody obviously. I\u2019ve seen Amir Albazi\u2019s fights and, you know, not to think anything less about him. But I just think overall Horiguchi is just that much better than him.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Kyoji Horiguchi wants to cement himself as Japan\u2019s first UFC champion<\/p>\n
Kyoji Horiguchi aims to make history for Japanese MMA and cement himself in the UFC history books. But the former Bellator MMA bantamweight champ is in a bit of a race with his fellow countryman. Tatsuro Taira<\/a> is also fast-climbing the UFC\u2019s flyweight ranks in his own right. At the pre-fight media day ahead of his Albazi clash, Horiguchi humbly mentioned that he wasn\u2019t overly preoccupied with the notion of becoming the first Japanese mixed martial artist to become a UFC titleholder.<\/p>\n When Taira\u2019s upward trajectory was mentioned, Kyoji Horiguchi<\/a> quipped that it wouldn\u2019t meaningfully matter to him whether he was the first or second combatant from Japan to win a UFC strap, but that he would eventually win the belt.<\/p>\n