Kyoji Horiguchi was the primary man to win titles in two main MMA promotions concurrently, holding the bantamweight belt in Bellator and RIZIN, however so much has modified since.
A former flyweight contender within the UFC, Horiguchi now holds the 125-pound title in RIZIN and plans on exhibiting dominance in Asia to develop into the world’s greatest flyweight earlier than he considers shifting weight courses once more.
Unbeaten in practically 10 years as a flyweight, he returns to the ring on Dec. 31 to face former EFC two-division champion Nkazimulo Zulu at RIZIN Decade in Saitama, Japan.
“I consider that flyweight is my weight class, and I need to concentrate on that,” Horiguchi advised MMA Combating via a translator. “My aim is to develop into the very best on this planet at flyweight. I’ve form of shifted in direction of flyweight and specializing in there as an alternative of going forwards and backwards between two divisions.
“And as for bantamweight, as soon as I obtain my aim at flyweight, then I can in all probability consider shifting up. However proper now, I’m simply targeted on changing into the very best at flyweight.”
Zulu claimed the EFC bantamweight title in 2023 and returned to flyweight to defend his title this previous March earlier than leaving the African promotion to affix RIZIN. In his debut battle in Japan, Zulu stopped Jo Arai within the opening spherical.
“On this business, if you happen to’re powerful and when you have the abilities, I believe anyone deserves the title shot,” Horiguchi stated. “And for me, so long as it’s below the flyweight division, I’m at all times able to tackle anyone.”
“So far as my opponent himself, he’s very athletic, and he’s very explosive, and I believe he’s an excellent fighter,” he added. “My plan is to face him wherever the battle takes me, both on the hanging or on the bottom. I’m going to battle in MMA, and that’s a plan.”
Horiguchi revealed that Zulu was not his unique opponent, although, however was given the chance after Alibek Gadzhammatov was not obtainable.
“I believe RIZIN is within the technique of gathering first rate flyweight fighters from throughout the globe, and I believe they’re engaged on it,” Horiguchi stated. “Earlier than this battle with Zulu was confirmed, they supplied me Gadzhammatov, who simply fought in November. I believe he’s a extremely good fighter. He was a troublesome fighter, and I stated OK to him. My plan was to battle him, however apparently, one thing occurred, possibly an harm or whatnot, and he wasn’t in a position to battle. However I already accepted the battle in opposition to him. He’s an excellent prospect, an excellent fighter.”
The Japanese star sees “different fighters that look fairly first rate” within the RIZIN roster at flyweight however nonetheless lack “publicity” to justify a championship conflict. Additionally, with former Courageous CF champion Jose Torres allowed to compete at RIZIN Decade in opposition to Makoto Shinryu, a door might be open for a future conflict with Courageous’s Muhammad Mokaev, who simply returned to the Bahrain-based firm after a 7-0 run within the UFC.
“That sounds good,” Horiguchi stated. “There’s so much that I can’t actually speak, however yeah, if it occurs, it occurs.”
