Amir Albazi VS Kyoji Horiguchi

Kyoji Horiguchi put on a vintage performance to defeat Amir Albazi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28). Horiguchi’s speed and in-and-out movement were the story of the fight, as he consistently beat Albazi to the punch and evaded return fire. Albazi attempted to slow the pace by clinching and seeking takedowns, but Horiguchi’s takedown defense held firm. In the second and third rounds, Horiguchi began to land heavier shots, wobbling Albazi with a crisp right hand and punishing him with calf kicks. Albazi showed toughness but was ultimately outclassed on the feet, unable to ground the Japanese star.

A massive flyweight contender bout. Amir Albazi (#6) welcomes Japanese legend Kyoji Horiguchi (#8) back to the upper echelon of the UFC. Horiguchi, a former Rizin and Bellator champion, looked dominant in his recent return against Ulanbekov. Albazi's suffocating grappling style clashes directly with Horiguchi's elusive karate blitzes. This is a classic striker-vs-grappler matchup with title implications.