KYOJI HORIGUCHI

Hailing from Japan, Kyoji Horiguchi emerged as an elite competitor across the flyweight and bantamweight divisions, anchored by his foundational skills in Shotokan karate and kickboxing. He launched his professional journey in 2010 and eventually joined the American Top Team camp. Throughout his decorated tenure, he secured major championship titles within Shooto, Rizin, and Bellator MMA. His earlier stint in the UFC included a notable challenge for the flyweight belt before he flourished as a dual titleholder in the Rizin organization, gaining widespread recognition for his sharp striking and quick footwork.

Entering the period surrounding UFC 302, Horiguchi carried a professional mark of 32-5-0 with one no contest. His recent performance history featured a victory over Makoto Takahashi via rear-naked choke. Prior to that, a matchup against Takahashi resulted in a no contest due to an accidental eye poke. He previously earned a unanimous decision win against Hiromasa Ougikubo and a technical submission victory against Yuto Hokamura. These efforts followed a unanimous decision loss to Patchy Mix.