Tag: Kyoji Horiguchi

Sergio Pettis reflects on Rizin 47 loss to Kyoji Horiguchi: ‘It’s an eye-opener’

Sergio Pettis reacts to his decision loss to Kyoji Horiguchi at Sunday’s Rizin 47.

[autotag]Sergio Pettis[/autotag] wasn’t able to replicate what he did to [autotag]Kyoji Horiguchi[/autotag] back in 2021.

The two fought this Sunday in Tokyo, Japan in the main event of Rizin 47. Pettis (23-7), who had defeated Horiguchi (33-5-1) by knockout in their first outing under the Bellator banner, lost a unanimous decision. The former Bellator champion didn’t expect to get beat in the fashion that he did, and was surprised with how things went down.

“He went out there and got comfortable,” Pettis said when asked about his decision loss at the Rizin 47 post-fight press conference. “He put me on my back and controlled me in the corners, and did a good job in the wrestling department.

“Like I said, this is something I’ve always lacked throughout my career, and it’s an eye-opener. I’ve been prepping for all these wrestlers my whole career, but there are some guys that still sneak through, and Horiguchi ended up being one of those guys. It is what it is, and I’ll get better at that.”

Pettis is currently signed with PFL and has yet to debut under the new regime, as the promotion bought Bellator back in November. He says a return to the PFL-Bellator cage is next for him.

“I have a lot of stuff to get back to at home with Bellator and the PFL,” Pettis said. “I have a lot of opportunities there for me, but I’m down for wherever the journey takes me. I started my career in the UFC for six years and when I was younger I thought that’s where I was going to be my whole life, but I went over to Bellator and got an opportunity to come over here for Rizin. I’m down for whenever the martial arts road takes me. I’m a martial artist at the end of the day.”

Rizin 47 marked the first time that Pettis fights in Japan. Overall, he had a positive experience, and would love to do it again, but this time get his hand raised.

“I felt there was some love from the fans, and in general the Japanese fans are amazing,” Pettis said. “They’re very supportive and very nice. It was amazing to see how every seat was filled from beginning to end. Back in the states, it’s the opposite. They wait till the main event for the crowd to be filled. The production and everything behind the scenes was amazing, so thank you. What an opportunity. I will never forget this moment, even though I lost.”

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Kyoji Horiguchi, Sergio Pettis to rematch at Rizin 47 in June

Kyoji Horiguchi will get an opportunity to avenge one of his most notable losses at Rizin 47

[autotag]Kyoji Horiguchi[/autotag] will get an opportunity to avenge one of his most notable losses at Rizin 47.

Horiguchi (32-5-1) is set to run it back with [autotag]Sergio Pettis[/autotag] (23-6) in a bantamweight bout June 8 (June 9 locally) from Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, promotion officials announced Thursday night.

Pettis rallied to knock out Horiguchi with a spinning backfist to retain his bantamweight title at Bellator 272. He went on to defend his title against Patricio Freire at Bellator 297 but then lost it to Patchy Mix at Bellator 301.

Horiguchi captured inaugural Rizin flyweight championship with a second-round submission of Makoto Takahashi this past December. He will return to bantamweight for the first time since September 2022.

The current Rizin 47 lineup includes:

  • Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Sergio Pettis
  • Juan Archuleta vs. Kleber Koike
  • Karshyga Dautbek vs. Tetsuya Seki

Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: Conor McGregor announces return – at 185, UFC 300 takes shape, more

This week’s “Spinning Back Clique” panel discusses Conor McGregor’s fight announcement, the state of UFC 300, the end of USADA and more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts, with a special Tuesday edition after New Year’s Day is in the rear-view mirror.

This week’s panel of Mike Bohn, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Danny Segura will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at 12 p.m. ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate:

  • [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] took to social media and announced he will fight Michael Chandler during International Fight Week on June 29 in Las Vegas, and it will happen at middleweight. UFC has not confirmed McGregor’s claims, but we’ll react to it and whether we’re buying or selling the details.
  • [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] revealed his third welterweight title defense will happen at UFC 300, which would be the first title booking for the historic card on April 13. Who will he fight, and what are impressions of the card so far given the other already confirmed bouts?
  • [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] says he’s unretired less than nine months after hanging up his gloves: What’s the best option for his fighting future?
  • UFC officially switched anti-doping systems on Jan. 1, with USADA now a thing of the past and a new structure in place. The panel will react to the press release with all the details.
  • What fight bookings do we DISLIKE the most so far on the MMA schedule in 2024?
  • [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] was MMA Junkie’s Male Fighter of the Year and [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag] was the Female Fighter of the Year: Fair or foul?

Video: Kyoji Horiguchi scores New Year’s Eve proposal after winning Rizin flyweight title

With a Rizin flyweight title win followed by a successful proposal, Kyoji Horiguchi is winning at life.

[autotag]Kyoji Horiguchi[/autotag]’s title victory may have been overshadowed by what followed.

Winning the inaugural Rizin flyweight title by submitting Makoto Shinryu in the second round at Rizin 45 was a big moment for Horiguchi and the promotion on New Year’s Eve, but he wasn’t done creating memories.

After getting the gold belt wrapped around his waist, Horiguchi had some hardware of his own to offer. With gold confetti all over the ring, Horiguichi turned to his girlfriend, and dropped to one knee to propose.

Trying to hold back tears of joy, she got on the microphone herself to make sure everyone heard her acceptance, and Horiguichi slid a ring onto his now-fiancee’s finger.

Check out video of the moment below (via X):

 

Horiguchi has challenged for a UFC title, captured Bellator gold, and is now a Rizin titleholder, but what came after his win on Sunday was perhaps the biggest moment of his life on a very special evening in Japan.

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Kyoji Horiguchi def. Makoto Shinryu at Rizin 45: Best photos

Check out these photos from Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Makoto Shinryu at Rizin 45 for the inagural flyweight title.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Kyoji Horiguchi[/autotag]’s inaugural flyweight title submission victory vs. Makoto Shinryu at Rizin 45, which took place at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. (Photos courtesy of Rizin FF)

Kyoji Horiguchi wins inaugural Rizin flyweight title, submits Makoto Shinryu at Rizin 45

Kyoji Horiguchi is the new Rizin flyweight champion.

[autotag]Kyoji Horiguchi[/autotag] won on all fronts this Sunday morning.

The long-time MMA veteran won the inaugural Rizin flyweight title at Rizin 45 in Japan, and then got a “yes” after proposing to his partner immediately after his victory.

Horiguchi (32-5) defeated Makoto Shinryu (16-2-1) with a rear-naked choke in the second round of their 125-pound championship bout. The fight was the main event of Rizin 45, which took place at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Below you can watch some highlights of the fight, the finish, and the coronation of Horiguchi’s flyweight title.

After being awarded the inaugural Rizin flyweight title, Horiguchi got on one knee and in front of thousands, proposed to his partner, who was standing in the ring with him. She said yes, and Horiguchi put the ring on his now-fiancee.

With this win, Horiguchi remains unbeaten since his loss to now Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix back in April 2022. The 33-year-old keeps adding to his decorated resume. The Rizin flyweight title joins a previous;y held bantamweight belts held in Rizin, Bellator, and Shooto.

Horiguchi is also a former UFC flyweight title challenger, as he fought and lost to then-UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson back in 2015 at UFC 186.

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UFC veterans in MMA action Dec. 29-31

Check out which veterans of the UFC are competing in combat sports across the globe this weekend.

This week, the UFC remains idle during its holiday season following the final pay-per-view event of the year.

Many other combat sports events are taking place that feature several familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

Check out which veterans of the global MMA leader are competing Dec. 29-31.

Scroll below to see how the UFC veterans fared last week, and see the names and details of this weekend’s competitors.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

RIZIN 45 official with Kyoji Horiguchi, John Dodson, Juan Archuelta and more

RIZIN’s New Year’s Eve event features a handful of names notable to North American MMA fans.

RIZIN 45 is officially on the calendar, and it features a handful of names notable to American viewers.

The event takes place Dec. 31 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, the promotion announced at a news conference Thursday. Atop the billing will be two title fights.

An inaugural RIZIN flyweight title has been implemented as former Bellator bantamweight champion [autotag]Kyoji Horiguchi[/autotag] (31-5) battles [autotag]Makoto Shinryu[/autotag] (16-1-1). Additionally, RIZIN bantamweight champion [autotag]Juan Archuleta[/autotag] (29-4) looks to defend his title vs. Japanese star [autotag]Kai Asakura[/autotag] (20-4).

Also on the card, former UFC title challenger and current BKFC flyweight champion [autotag]John Dodson[/autotag] (24-13) takes on [autotag]Hiromasa Ougikubo[/autotag] (25-8-2).

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With Bellator’s future uncertain, Horiguchi makes another appearance for RIZIN, a promotion for which he previously carried a bantamweight title. It’s the first fight for Horiguchi since an inaugural Bellator flyweight title fight in July that ended in a no contest after he was accidentally poked in the eye by Shinryu. The Dec. 31 fight will be a rematch, though this time for RIZIN gold.

After years of asking for crossover fights in RIZIN, Bellator product Archuleta got that in December when he defeated Soo Chul Kim at Bellator x RIZIN 1. Archuleta returned to RIZIN in May when he defeated Naoki Inoue. In July, Archuleta captured RIZIN gold when he defeated the then-champion Ougikubo. His opponent, Asakura is one of the biggest combat sports stars in the region, with wins over Horiguchi, Ougikubo, and others.

Dodson makes his second RIZIN appearance as he continues to jump back and forth over from BKFC. Thus far in RIZIN, Dodson is 2-0 with wins over Hideo Tokoro and Tatsuki Saomoto.

The current RIZIN 45 lineup includes:

  • Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Hiromasa Ougikubo
  • Juan Arhculeta vs. Kai Asakura
  • Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Makoto Shinryu
  • Kleber Koike vs. Yutaka Saito

Kyoji Horiguchi wants Makoto Shinryu rematch after no contest for inaugural Bellator flyweight title

Kyoji Horiguchi wants to run things back with Makoto Shinryu after their no contest at Bellator x Rizin 2.

[autotag]Kyoji Horiguchi[/autotag] wants to run things back with [autotag]Makoto Shinryu[/autotag] after their no contest at Bellator x Rizin 2.

Horiguchi’s inaugural Bellator flyweight title fight vs. Shinryu was ruled a no contest after he accidentally poked Shinryu in his right eye and rendered him unable to continue. The poke happened just 25 seconds into the first round of the Bellator x Rizin 2 co-main event Saturday at Saitama Super Arena near Tokyo.

Bellator president Scott Coker said he’d like to see the pair rematch, and Horiguchi agrees.

“I guess I would also like to have a rematch,” Horiguchi said through an interpreter at the Bellator MMA x Rizin 2 post-fight press conference.

Horiguchi said he immediately recognized that he poked Shinryu in the eye and is apologetic for the incident.

“It was unfortunate,” Horiguchi said. “I felt my finger going into his eye, so immediately I pointed out that he’s hurt and I sort of stopped the match there.”

Although Horiguchi says he would have continued, he doesn’t fault Shinryu for being unable to compete. Shinryu still couldn’t see after taking the entire five minutes to try and recover, which forced referee Jason Herzog to stop the fight and rule it a no contest.

“If he really couldn’t see from his right eye, then I think the match should have been stopped,” Horiguchi said. “You’re a professional. This goes on the record, also so if you can’t fight, then I don’t think it should have been continued.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator x Rizin 2.

Bellator x Rizin 2 results: Kyoji Horiguchi-Makoto Shinryu title fight ruined by accidental eye poke

Bellator officially has a men’s flyweight division – but it still doesn’t have a champion after an unfortunate turn of events.

Bellator officially has a men’s flyweight division – but it still doesn’t have a champion.

The division’s inaugural title fight ended in a no contest Sunday after [autotag]Kyoji Horiguchi[/autotag] accidentally poked [autotag]Makoto Shinryu[/autotag] in his left eye. The poke happened just 25 seconds into the first round of the Bellator x Rizin 2 co-main event at Saitama Super Arena near Tokyo.

To his credit, Shinryu took the entire five minutes to try and recover but ultimately couldn’t continue, forcing referee Jason Herzog to stop the fight and rule it a no contest.

It’s an especially unfortunate conclusion for Horiguchi, Bellator’s former banamweight champion, as he was looking to win a second division title in his home country.