Welcome back to the UFC, Kyoji Horiguchi.
American Top Team’s Kyoji Horiguchi was considered one of the most elite fighters outside the UFC, leaving the premier promotion with a winning record of 7-1 back in 2016.
The former Bellator and Rizin champion’s only loss in the Octagon came to the greatest flyweight of all time Demetrious Johnson, where he was submitted in the final second of their 2015 title fight.
Since losing to Johnson, Horiguchi has gone 19-3 (1 NC).
The 34-year-old re-signed with the UFC earlier this year. Horiguchi will be making his return against a top contender nearly a decade removed from his last UFC fight.
- READ MORE: Belal Muhammad books massive fight as he looks to bounce back from losing the UFC welterweight title
Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Tagir Ulanbekov added to UFC Qatar
UFC Qatar keeps getting better and better.
Just yesterday, UFC CEO Dana White announced a No. 1 contender double-header for UFC Qatar on Nov. 22 featuring Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker and Belal Muhammad vs. Ian Machado Garry.
According to Marcel Dorff, Horiguchi will return on the card against #12-ranked flyweight contender Tagir Ulanbekov, who’s coached by the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The flyweight bout was first reported by Léo Guimaraes.
Horiguchi vs. Ulanbekov was initially set to go down at UFC Baku in June, but Horiguchi withdrew due to injury.
Ulanbekov (17-2) has an impressive UFC record of 6-1. The Dagestan native is riding a four-fight win streak at 125 lbs and could be a few wins away from a title opportunity against Alexandre Pantoja.
Ilia Topuria’s brother, Aleksandre, is also fighting at UFC Qatar
In more recent news, Aleksandre Topuria, brother of UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria, will be making the walk for his sequel UFC bout.
Topuria is set to meet Kazakhstan’s Bekzat Almakhan (12-2) on the UFC Qatar undercard next month.
Almakhan notably fought a then undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov in his UFC debut, dropping his opponent en route to a lopsided decision loss last year.
Almakhan has since rebounded with a TKO win over two-time ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ winner Brad Katona.
Topuria won his UFC debut against Colby Thicknesse at UFC 312 in February. Ilia Topuria’s older brother is 6-1 as a pro with five finishes.