Kyoji Horiguchi secured his first UFC victory in spectacular fashion, expressing significant relief in his post-fight comments. The Japanese fighter revealed he faced pressure knowing another loss could have resulted in his release from the promotion after potentially losing three fights in a row.
Kyoji Horiguchi ended a difficult stretch in his UFC career by earning his first victory in the promotion, and the Japanese veteran made clear in post-fight remarks just how much was riding on the result. Speaking after the win, Horiguchi acknowledged he was aware that another defeat could have cost him his place on the roster, having potentially been on a three-fight losing skid heading into the bout.
Horiguchi, 35, enters the record books at 36-6-0, a career that spans well beyond the UFC and reflects one of the more decorated flyweight and bantamweight careers in MMA history. The 163 cm Japanese fighter trains out of American Top Team and brings a well-rounded skill set to the cage. He averages 3.64 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy and adds a takedown threat, averaging 1.67 takedowns per 15 minutes. His ground game leans toward control rather than submissions, with barely any submission attempts registered across his career.
Why it matters
- Horiguchi's win halts what could have been a three-fight skid and likely secures his short-term future in the promotion
- At 35, with a 36-win career behind him, he remains a credible presence in the lighter weight divisions
- A fighter of his experience and name value bouncing back carries divisional significance, as a healthy Horiguchi is a dangerous opponent for any flyweight or bantamweight on the roster
- His relief in post-fight comments signals the emotional and professional weight he carried into the performance, adding context to what the result means beyond the record
