Las Vegas – Despite staying one step ahead of Amir Albazi for three full rounds at UFC Vegas 113 and earning a unanimous decision, Japan’s Kyoji Horiguchi was unhappy with his performance on Saturday.
“Not the best performance,” said Horiguchi (36-5, 1NC) after the co-main event fight. “I want to finish him.”
Speaking to media outlets such as Cageside Press, the veteran flyweight noted that there was nothing specific in his approach that he would have changed. “There’s nothing in particular that I didn’t like about my performance tonight, other than the fact that I couldn’t finish it. That’s exactly what I wanted tonight.”
Now the focus is back on gold. After nearly a decade away from the UFC, where he won bantamweight gold in both Bellator and RIZIN, as well as a flyweight title in RIZIN, Horiguchi returned to the UFC to prove he’s the best in the world.
“Of course I want to win the title quickly,” said Horiguchi, who plans to continue training and return to the top American team in Florida soon. “I’m just focused on the belt.”
One hiccup could be a broken hand that he believes he suffered in the opening round of the fight with Albazi. Asked about the time frame for his next fight, Horiguchi commented: “I’m not sure, because my hand might be a little bit broken. But if I fix this, it won’t matter: I can fight anywhere, anytime. Okay?”
As for why he chose now (he made his comeback late last year) to return to the promotion, it’s “because my best time is now,” Horiguchi said. “That’s why I’m challenging the UFC. That’s why.”
Kyoji Horiguchi has been open about his willingness to face teammate Alexandre Pantoja for flyweight gold to show who the best in the world really is. But in December, Pantoja was injured in a fight with Josh Van, losing his title.
He told Cageside Press on Saturday when asked if fighting Pantoja would have meant more: “I don’t care. I want a belt, so if the champion is Pantoja, yeah, Pantoja. Different guy? Yeah, different guy!”
That said, Horiguchi would like to make Pantoja his first title defense. “Yes, of course. Because he defended often. I think he is a real champion.” Horiguchi noted the “coincidental” nature of Pantoja’s loss and reiterated that. “I think he is a real champion.”
Horiguchi later credited his team for his success, calling ATT coach Mike Brown an “MMA Otaku” (MMA nerd).
Watch the full UFC Vegas 113 post-fight press conference with Kyoji Horiguchi above.
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