Kyoji Horiguchi is “at the perfect time to get that title,” says Sergio Pettis ahead of the former’s return to UFC Qatar | BJPenn.com

Kyoji Horiguchi returns to the Ultimate Fighting Championship at UFC Qatar, and his former two-time opponent Sergio Pettis has given his thoughts on Horiguchi’s octagon return.

The former challenger to the UFC flyweight title, as well as former Rizin and Bellator MMA bantamweight champion, returns to the UFC after nine years as Horiguchi clashes with Tagir Ulanbekov on November 22. The pair were set to fight in June before Horiguchi pulled out, but the rebooking here means the Japanese standout could still make his UFC return in 2025.

When former two-time Horiguchi opponent Sergio Pettis was asked about that impending comeback in the octagon against Ulanbekov in the coming weeks, Pettis said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

“Oh, sure. I think Kyoji is going to do well, man. He’s a beast wherever he goes and I’m excited to see his second run in the UFC. Another chance. A lot of people don’t get that opportunity. So I’m excited to see what he can do there, man.”

“I know that personally, you know, even when I fight him, he’s a beast. He’s good everywhere. Good full mixed martial artist, great stand-up, great wrestling, great jiu-jitsu. I think he’s at the perfect time to get that belt. So hopefully we’ll see that.”

Kyoji Horiguchi and his history with Sergio Pettis

Kyoji Horiguchi and Sergio Pettis fought each other twice in separate promotions, but both were main event showdowns in which each fighter scored a victory.

Their first meeting took place on December 3, 2021, with the two men fighting for the Bellator MMA 135-pound title. Pettis scored an incredible spinning backfist finish in the fourth frame of the fight to stop Horiguchi at Bellator 272 in a fight that many observers believed Horiguchi had largely won.

The rematch took place in Rizin on June 9, 2024, with Horiguchi pairing his series with Pettis. At Rizin 47, Horiguchi would earn a unanimous decision victory over Pettis and have one more fight that year at Rizin’s annual New Year’s Eve extravaganza before re-signing with the UFC.

The two men are currently contracted to various MMA competitions, but maybe one day we could see that rubber match between Horiguchi and Pettis, depending on how things go.