Kyoji Horiguchi returned to Rizin FF for the first time since December 2020, and he got a much-needed win.
After suffering back-to-back losses under, former Bellator and Rizin bantamweight champ Horiguchi (30-5) went back to his native Japan for a clash with Yuto Hokamura (14-12-2) in the main event of RIZIN 38.
The fight, which took place at the famous Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, saw Horiguchi forced to overcome to adversity. Hokamura knocked him down in the first round before Horiguchi got it to the ground in the second round and locked in an arm-triangle choke for the finish.
Check out the replay of Horiguchi’s being knocked down then scoring the finish (via Twitter):
This was Horiguchi getting dropped in the 1st round.
Got CRACKED mid-air as he was throwing a knee 😬
Not sure how he survived that but he did and came back to win 👊🏻 #RIZIN38pic.twitter.com/zqM7CrmM3R
— Nonlinear Horse (@NonlinearHorse) September 25, 2022
／#超RIZIN #RIZIN38
帰ってきた堀口恭司🙌🙌🙌
＼金太郎を肩固めで、沈める！💥
🎟 全試合アーカイブ視聴可能！PPV購入はこちらからhttps://t.co/8Nv7IgaGzN pic.twitter.com/7Jo8ap8tdx
— RIZIN FF OFFICIAL (@rizin_PR) September 25, 2022
The result was an important one for Horiguchi. He was the recipient of the 2021 Knockout of the Year against Sergio Pettis at Bellator 272, then was unable to advance in the Bellator bantamweight grand prix when he lost a unanimous decision in his opening-round bout with Patchy Mix at Bellator 279 in April.
Horiguchi took some time off to recalibrate, and looked sharp in his return fora win that should set him up for bigger fights again going forward.
