Former Bellator MMA bantamweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi will be in action later this month.
Horiguchi (29-5) remains the current RIZIN Fighting Federation bantamweight champion, but will feature in a non-title bout against Yuto “Kintaro” Hokamura (14-11-2) at RIZIN 38 on September 25. The event will take place in RIZIN’s home base at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, just outside Tokyo.
RIZIN officials announced the booking recently.
Additional fight announcement for RIZIN.38
Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Kintaro#RIZIN #RIZIN38 pic.twitter.com/EtVdMjAVxb
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) August 31, 2022
Japanese legend Horiguchi relinquished both the Bellator and RIZIN titles in 2019 after sustaining a knee injury. He would return to action a year and a half later, reclaiming his RIZIN belt by finishing rival Kai Asakura, who had knocked out Horiguchi in a non-title affair prior to his injury.
Horiguchi would then attempt to reclaim his Bellator belt, but was knocked out by Sergio Pettis in a Comeback of the Year effort. He next entered Bellator’s bantamweight grand prix, falling to Patchy Mix via decision in April.
RIZIN 38 will mark Horiguchi’s first time fighting in Japan since December 31, 2020.
Hokamura is a RIZIN and Pancrase veteran who has lost two straight, to RIZIN and DEEP vet Yuki Motoya, and UFC alum Naoki Inoue.
Also set for the RIZIN 38 card are the following match-ups also just announced:
- Hiromasa Ougikubo vs. Soo Chul Kim
- Kyohei Hagiwara vs. Chihiro Suzuki
- Juri Ohara vs. Luiz Gustavo
- Shoma Shibisai vs. Callyu Gibrainn
On the same night, a sub-card entitled Super RIZIN will see Floyd Mayweather Jr. face Mikuru Asakura in an exhibition boxing match.
