KYOJI HORIGUCHI

Hailing from Japan, Kyoji Horiguchi established himself as a world-class competitor by securing multiple championship titles across Bellator and Rizin. The orthodox fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, utilizes a technical background rooted in Shootfighting and Shotokan Karate. Throughout his career, he has navigated between the bantamweight and flyweight weight classes while gaining recognition for his explosive striking speed. Since his return to the UFC in 2025, he has consistently tested his skills against elite opponents in the organization.

Heading into this matchup, the Japanese veteran holds a professional record of 36-6-0 with one no-contest. His recent activity shows a unanimous decision victory over Sergio Pettis in mid-2024, followed by another points win against Nkazimulo Zulu. He later secured a technical submission against Tagir Ulanbekov and a decision win over Amir Albazi before falling to Manel Kape via punches in June 2026.