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Kyoji Horiguchi faces Sergio Pettis for the Bellator bantamweight title at Bellator 272. Should the Japanese sensation win, it will be his second time holding Bellator’s 135lb strap.
‘The Typhoon’ can be considered the greatest bantamweight on the planet competing outside the UFC. At 31-years-old, he has already produced an amazing MMA career by defeating noteworthy opponents across the globe.
Kyoji Horiguchi entered the UFC in 2013 with a stellar 11-1 record. Horiguchi would rack up seven victories in the promotion, with his sole defeat being to then-flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson.
The Japanese fighter would leave the UFC on a three-fight win streak and continue his career back in Japan with Rizin. Since then, Horiguchi has added more incredible victories to his resume.
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This list takes a look at the five greatest wins of Horiguchi’s career so far.
#5. Former UFC flyweight contender Ali Bagautinov
Ali Bagautinov competed in the UFC from 2013 to 2016. With victories over noteworthy challengers such as John Lineker and Tim Elliot, Bagautinov earned a titleshot against Demetrious Johnson for the UFC flyweight title in his fourth UFC fight.
Bagautinov would lose the contest by unanimous decision and go on to fight Kyoji Horiguchi in 2016. The fight went on to be both fighters' last bout with the UFC.
Horiguchi showcased his growth as an MMA fighter in this fight. A year prior, he had been dominated by Demetrious Johnson. 'Mighty Mouse' was able to exploit Kyoji Horiguchi's wrestling and grappling deficiencies, keeping the karate black belt grounded for most of the bout, and securing an armbar at the last second of the fight.
In his fight with Bagautinov, however, 'The Typhoon' overcame the Sambo Champion's grappling expertise and managed to take the Russian's back, nearly securing a rear naked choke. Despite being taken down a couple of times, Horiguchi battled back and secured a takedown of his own over the Russian.
The Japanese fighter utilized quick footwork, improved grappling, and precise striking to win the fight by unanimous decision.
#4. Former UFC flyweight contender Ian McCall
After winning the the Rizin bantamweight Grand-Prix in 2017, Kyoji Horiguchi made his return to the ring with a spectacular knockout victory over Ian McCall.
Newer MMA fans might not know about Ian McCall. The California native was once one of the main forebearers for the UFC flyweight division, back when the company introduced the 125lb weight class nearly a decade ago.
McCall's greatest career achievement came when he nearly defeated Demetrious Johnson in the UFC's first ever flyweight bout. Despite many thinking 'Creepy' did enough to win, the judges declared the fight a draw. 'Mighty Mouse' went on to defeat McCall in their rematch.
From 2013 to 2015, McCall would go 2-2 in the UFC before being inactive for nearly three years due to a variety of injuries and illnesses.
He made his comeback as a bantamweight in Rizin and in his second fight with the Japanese promotion he suffered a first round knockout loss to Kyoji Horiguchi. The fight with 'The Typhoon' did not last more than ten seconds and McCall would retire shortly after the knockout loss.
Watch Kyoji Horiguchi's quick knockout of McCall in the video below:
#3. Current UFC flyweight Manel Kape
Kyoji Horiguchi and Manel Kape battled in the semifinals of the Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix back in 2017.
It was an exciting bout that saw both fighters land powerful strikes. Later in the fight, an accidental clash of heads saw Kyoji Horiguchi get knocked down. Despite the setback, 'The Typoon' rallied hard in the third round and landed a takedown. With Kape on his back, a bloody Horiguchi secured a tight arm-triangle choke and earned a submission victory.
This fight helped display the Japanese fighter's heart and resilience. Like the Bagautinov bout, it also helped showcase Horiguchi's improvement in the grappling department.
Manel Kape would leave Rizin after scoring two spectacular knockouts against Takeya Mizugaki and Kai Asakura. In 2021, he signed with the UFC and move down to flyweight. Having lost his first two bouts with the American promotion, Kape bounced back in August with a devastating knockout victory against Ode' Osbourne.
#2. Former Bellator bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell
Kyoji Horiguchi met Darrion 'The Wolf' Caldwell in the ring on December 31st, 2018. The fight was for the inaugural Rizin bantamweight title.
The fight came at the perfect time for 'The Typhoon'. Just a year into his Rizin career, Horiguchi had already cleared out the promotion's bantamweight division, forcing Rizin to search for opponents abroad.
The Japanese promotion, working with Bellator President Scott Coker, managed to bring in Bellator bantamweight champion Caldwell as a challenger for Horiguchi.
Caldwell was a dangerous opponent for 'The Typhoon'. The American was a taller and bigger man and boasted serious wrestling credentials, having won the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships back in 2009.
The fight began as a classic striker vs. grappler match up. 'The Wolf' was constantly on the prowl for takedowns, while Horiguchi was looking to keep the fight on the feet. In the first-round, Caldwell landed a takedown and almost secured a kimura. In the second-round, 'The Wolf' used his grappling skills to keep Horiguchi on the ground for most of the round.
In the third round, after being taken down again, Horiguchi managed to secure a tight guillotine, forcing 'The Wolf' to tap.
With this victory, 'The Typhoon' was not only able to win the inaugural Rizin bantamweight championship, but also showcase his skills against another elite champion from a different organization.
Kyoji Horiguchi would defeat Caldwell for a second time several months later at Bellator 222, this time for the Bellator bantamweight title. The victory made the Japanese star a champion in two different promotions, a feat rarely accomplished in MMA.
Watch Kyoji Horiguchi's first fight with Darrion Caldwell below:
#1. Former Rizin bantamweight champion Kai Asakura
Kyoji Horiguchi fought fellow countryman Kai Asakura in 2019 in a non-title bout. Like Caldwell, Asakura had the size advantage. However, unlike Caldwell, Asakura had absolute dynamite in his hands and instead of going for takedowns, he was intent on throwing bombs from the opening bell.
In a shocking upset, Asakura knocked Horiguchi out in the first round.
After the defeat, Horiguchi was forced to vacate his Rizin and Bellator titles in order to undergo knee surgery. 'The Typhoon' missed the next 15 months, giving Asakura the chance to win the vacant Rizin bantamweight title.
The Japanese fighters met in a rematch on December 31st, 2020.
Kyoji Horiguchi started the fight with devastating leg kicks, battering his younger opponent's legs until Asakura was noticeably limping. Then, while locked in a clinch, 'The Typhoon' landed a right hand that sent Asakura to the canvas. Horiguchi finished the fight with a flurry of punches on his downed opponent. With the spectacular victory, Horiguchi regained his Rizin title, and earned the 29th win of his storied career.
Watch Kyoji Horiguchi avenge his defeat in the video below:
