Kyoji Horiguchi has been denouncing division for the past three months
In early 2025, Kyoji Horiguchi generated great anticipation among fight fans after it was announced that he would be rejoining the UFC after an absence of almost a decade. The Japanese sensation did not disappoint in his eventual return to the company later that year at UFC Fight Night 265, where he convincingly submitted Tagir Ulanbekov in the third round.
He then added even more to his astonishing warpath through the weight class last weekend when he took on the elite Amir Albazi at UFC Vegas 113, battering him with his shocking speed and precise punches.
In just two clips, Kyoji Horiguchi has dismantled some of the most talented flyweight competitors in his wake, rocketing the rankings to fifth place. as of this writing. Given the level of dominance in his last few cage appearances, and his background as a high-caliber fighter overseas, there is a good chance that “Karate Kid” could earn the next opportunity to challenge for the 125-lb belt sometime later in 2026. However, one wonders how the veteran Kyoji Horiguchi would fare against the young and rising Joshua Van?
Van captured the championship after a strong period of activity and incredible results
At just 24 years old and coming off a six-fight winning streak, current flyweight king Van’s ascent to the top of his division can only be described as meteoric. When he was unfortunately eliminated by Charles Johnson in 2024 after a stunning loss, it was hard to imagine him making an astonishing recovery.
Learning from the loss of spades, “The Fearless” went on to win his next five straight matches, including an exciting split-decision victory over perennial contender Brandon Royval at UFC 317, which earned him a shot against then-125-lb gold standard Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 323.
Despite staring down a man who had previously defended his title five times and was widely regarded as one of the greatest pound-for-pound competitors in the world, Van was eager to test himself in the most important fight of his life. Although the wait for the match had been a gradual build-up of excitement and anticipation over the course of a few months, the fight ended very quickly, as Pantoja suffered an arm injury after attempting to post with it during a takedown from Van. This forced the referee to end the tilt via TKO, making Van the new UFC Flyweight Champion.
Does Kyoji Horiguchi have what it takes to topple the dominant Van?
At this point, Van is not scheduled to defend his throne, and the other top five contenders are not booked for fights either. But if Kyoji Horiguchi happens to be picked as the one to compete for gold next, could he be the one to hand Van his second-ever setback?
For newer UFC and MMA fans, many may not be familiar with Kyoji Horiguchi’s previous stint with the organization, or his time on the competitive international circuit. The Japanese made his UFC debut in 2013, powering through his first four opponents before colliding with then-flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson. In the fifth and final round he lost to the American at 4:59 with an armbar.
He then fought three more times in the promotion before joining the venerable Eastern fight company RIZIN in 2017. Under their banner, Horiguchi flourished as an athlete to watch, securing the RIZIN flyweight and bantamweight belts multiple times.
Kyoji Horiguchi also briefly competed for Bellator during his post-UFC tenure, logging five matches with them. The highlight of that short run came in 2019 when he defeated Darrion Caldwell to win the 135-pound championship.
In terms of experience, fight IQ and endurance, Horiguchi is the toughest challenger to Van’s spot at the head of the pack at 125 pounds. With his extremely quick footwork and hand speed in his clash with Albazi, the American Top Team product could pose a serious threat to the champion on the feet.
He also has a significant edge in the wrestling department, recording six victories by submission, including an arm-triangle choke over Manel Kape.
However, Van also has his own impeccable abilities, most notably possessing one of the best gas tanks in the entire UFC. This absurd level of cardio was on perfect display in his UFC 317 clash with Brandon Royval, where he landed more than 200 punches over the course of the 15-minute fight. In fact, the Burmese often finds himself posting triple-digit striking numbers, landing at least 100 significant hits in four of his last six fights. While his wrestling remains untested for the most part, Van Horiguchi could make his night a complete nightmare if he manages to keep the match off the canvas.
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