UFC Qatar: Kyoji Horiguchi Announces Return in Thunderous Fashion, Chokes Out Tagir Ulanbekov
Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Kyoji Horiguchi, UFC Qatar Credit: UFC
After pulling out of their June date, Kyoji Horiguchi finally made his UFC return and threw down with Tagir Ulanbekov at UFC Qatar on Saturday.
The former UFC flyweight title challenger, RIZIN, and Bellator MMA champion was fighting inside the octagon for the first time since 2016, when he walked away from the UFC while on a three-fight winning streak. The Japanese star would go on to win bantamweight gold in RIZIN and Bellator MMA, briefly carrying both belts simultaneously. After vacating those belts due to injury, Horigichi would later go on to win RIZIN’s inaugural flyweight championship, making him one of the most decorated fighters outside the UFC for the better part of a decade.
Kyoji Horiguchi was the noticeably smaller man in his UFC return, and had to contend with a number of kicks from the lanky Ulanbekov. Horiguchi would finally catch one of those kicks, but was unable to dump Ulanbekov with it. Ulanbekov would later tie Horiguchi up along the fence, eventually taking the smaller man down. Horiguchi ripped the body while seated against the fence, then worked his way up, with Ulanbekov essentially doing nothing while on top. They’d have a scrappy little exchange to close out the round.
Round two saw Horiguchi almost immediately cracking Ulanbekov with a right hand then getting the fight to the ground. A great start to the round, with Horiguchi active on top. Ulanbekov attempted to lock up a guillotine off his back, but Horiguchi was able to reposition and break free. Horiguchi then briefly had a front headlock and peppered Ulanbekov with punches.
Ulanbekov climbed back up a short time later, with just over two minutes on the clock. A kick by Horiguchi appeared to compromise Ulanbekov’s leg; a high kick moments later just missed being a potential knockout blow. Horiguchi would go back to that high kick in the final minute of round two, then get the fight back to the mat, against showing an active top game.
Kyoji Horiguchi came out hot in the third and went right after Ulanbekov, connecting with a left hand. Within seconds, Ulanbekov was on the ground, and mounted. He’d make it to the fence, but was getting mauled. Horiguchi appeared to have fuel in the tank, and less than two minutes in connected again wit ha head kick, nearly knocking Ulanbekov out! Tagir survived there, but was caught in a rear-naked choke and put out moments later! A dazzling return by Japan’s Horiguchi, who will leap straight into title contention with that victory thanks to his impeccable resume.
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1992300418093957179
Official Result: Kyoji Horiguchi def. Tagir Ulanbekov by technical submission (rear-naked choke), Round 3, 2:18
