Kyoji Horiguchi, a distinguished former champion of both Bellator and Rizin, is poised for a highly anticipated comeback to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) following a nine-year absence. He is scheduled to face Tagir Ulanbekov, a formidable flyweight contender and protégé of the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov, in a significant return bout.
Horiguchi, once hailed as one of the most elite fighters outside the UFC, left the premier promotion in 2016 boasting an impressive 7-1 record. His sole professional defeat within the Octagon came in 2015 against Demetrious Johnson, widely regarded as the greatest flyweight of all time, who submitted him in the final seconds of their championship encounter. Since that memorable contest, Horiguchi has amassed an outstanding record of 19 wins, 3 losses, and 1 no-contest (1 NC).
The 34-year-old Japanese martial artist re-signed with the UFC earlier this year. His re-entry into the promotion against a top-tier contender marks a pivotal moment, nearly a full decade after his last appearance inside the world-renowned Octagon.
Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Tagir Ulanbekov Confirmed for UFC Qatar
The UFC Qatar event, slated for November 22, continues to enhance its already thrilling fight card. Following UFC CEO Dana White`s recent announcement of a crucial No. 1 contender double-header—featuring Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker and Belal Muhammad vs. Ian Machado Garry—another compelling matchup has now been officially added.
Sources indicate that Horiguchi will clash with the #12-ranked flyweight contender Tagir Ulanbekov. Ulanbekov, a talented fighter from Dagestan, benefits from the expert coaching guidance of former UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. This flyweight bout was initially scheduled for UFC Baku in June but was postponed due to an injury sustained by Horiguchi. Ulanbekov (17-2 professional, 6-1 UFC) is currently riding an impressive four-fight winning streak at 125 pounds, positioning himself as a strong contender for a future title shot against the reigning champion, Alexandre Pantoja.
Aleksandre Topuria Also Set to Compete at UFC Qatar
In related news concerning the event, Aleksandre Topuria, the brother of the current UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria, is also confirmed to compete at UFC Qatar. He is slated to face Kazakhstan’s Bekzat Almakhan (12-2) on the preliminary card.
Almakhan notably made his UFC debut against the then-undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov, where he managed to drop his opponent before ultimately suffering a decision loss last year. Since that challenging debut, Almakhan has impressively rebounded with a TKO victory over two-time ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ winner Brad Katona. Aleksandre Topuria, with a professional record of 6-1 including five finishes, secured a successful UFC debut himself against Colby Thicknesse at UFC 312 in February.
