Ex-title challenger Horiguchi returning to UFC
Kyoji Horiguchi is vacating the Rizin FF flyweight title and re-signing with the UFC, he announced Sunday morning at Rizin 50.
The UFC has yet to announce Horiguchi's next fight.
"I'm going to the UFC," Horiguchi said in Japanese, according to the broadcast. "I'm going to become the first Japanese UFC champion."
The 34-year-old returns to the Octagon after a combined 20-fight stint in Rizin FF and Bellator. During his time in those two promotions, Horiguchi captured the Rizin FF bantamweight title, the Bellator bantamweight title, and, most recently, the Rizin FF flyweight title.
Horiguchi went 7-1 in his first run with the UFC, which lasted from 2013-16. He left the organization on a three-fight winning streak after his contract expired. Horiguchi defeated the likes of Ali Bagautinov and Neil Seery, with his lone loss coming in a 2015 title bout against Demetrious Johnson.
Horiguchi has put together a 16-3 (1 NC) record since his UFC departure. He has earned wins over the likes of Sergio Pettis, Kai Asakura, Manel Kape, and Darrion Caldwell.
The Takasaki, Japan, native is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Nkazimulo Zulu in a Rizin FF flyweight title defense last December. He has won six in a row.
Horiguchi trains out of American Top Team in Florida alongside UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.