Kyoji Horiguchi, a former Bellator and RIZIN champion, is eager to pursue UFC gold following his return to the organization. The 34-year-old fighter is set to face Tagir Ulanbekov on June 21 in Baku, Azerbaijan, aiming to secure the UFC belt. Horiguchi's previous UFC stint saw him achieve a victory over Ali Bagautinov in November 2016, with his sole loss being a title defeat against Demetrious Johnson in April 2015.
Despite training alongside teammate Alexandre Pantoja at American Top Team, Horiguchi is open to the possibility of facing him in the octagon for a potential title bout. Both fighters are prepared to navigate the challenge of competing against each other while maintaining their friendship. Horiguchi, who has showcased his skills in both flyweight and bantamweight divisions, is currently focused on conquering the flyweight division to achieve his championship aspirations.