Kyoji Horiguchi Demands Flyweight Title Shot After Stunning UFC Return

When Kyoji Horiguchi stepped back into the UFC octagon after nine long years, no one expected the fireworks — not even the crowd in Doha. But on November 22, 2025, at the UFC’s first-ever event in Qatar, the 34-year-old Japanese warrior didn’t just return — he announced himself as a force again, submitting Tagir Ulanbekov with a brutal rear-naked choke in the third round. And then, in the most audacious post-fight moment of the year, he turned to the camera and yelled: "Where’s Pantoja? He is my teammate but it doesn’t matter. I will beat your [expletive]."

A Comeback Written in Blood and Grappling

Horiguchi’s last UFC fight was in November 2016 — a heartbreaking loss to Demetrious Johnson by last-second armbar, the same night he fought for the flyweight title. He vanished from the promotion after that, not because he was done, but because the UFC didn’t see him as a priority. He didn’t fade. He evolved. Over the next nine years, he became a champion in Rizin and Bellator, holding both bantamweight titles simultaneously at one point. He beat Kai Asakura. He dominated Sergio Pettis. He even went toe-to-toe with Manel Kape. His record outside the UFC? Six fights, zero losses. That’s not a comeback. That’s a declaration.

He vacated his Rizin flyweight belt in March 2025 to re-enter the UFC. His return fight, originally set for June 21, was scrapped when he withdrew for undisclosed reasons. Many assumed age, injury, or loss of edge. But on November 22, in front of a roaring crowd under the Qatari desert sky, Horiguchi proved them wrong. He dropped Ulanbekov with a crisp left hook, swarmed like a predator, and locked in the choke with cold precision. The tap came at 3:17 of Round 3. No doubt. No controversy.

The Unthinkable Challenge: Teammate vs. Champion

Here’s where it gets wild. Horiguchi didn’t call out the top-ranked challenger. He didn’t ask for the #2 guy. He went straight for the king — Alexandre Pantoja, the current UFC flyweight champion. And they train together. At American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida. Same gym. Same coaches. Same sparring partners. Same showers.

It’s unheard of. Fighters avoid challenging their training partners. It’s tradition. It’s loyalty. It’s self-preservation. But Horiguchi doesn’t care about tradition. He’s spent his career tearing through divisions, and now he’s got one target: the belt. "It doesn’t matter," he said. And he meant it.

Pantoja, meanwhile, is coming off a dominant win over Joshua Van at UFC 323 — a fight that solidified his status as the most complete flyweight on the planet. But Pantoja’s path to defending his title is now blocked by his own teammate. The UFC’s matchmaking team must be sweating. Do they force the fight? Do they let Pantoja defend against someone else? Do they risk a civil war inside American Top Team?

Why This Fight Makes Sense — Even If It’s Uncomfortable

The truth? This matchup is a goldmine. Two elite grapplers. Two technicians who know each other’s tells. Pantoja’s pressure vs. Horiguchi’s counter-striking. Horiguchi’s veteran composure vs. Pantoja’s youthful aggression. And the narrative? Pure drama. The veteran returns from exile, knocks out a top contender, and then turns to his own teammate and says, "I’m taking your belt."

This isn’t just a title shot. It’s a reckoning. Horiguchi spent years proving he belongs at 125 pounds — even after spending five years at bantamweight. He’s not chasing glory. He’s chasing legacy. He already won titles in three major promotions. Now he wants the UFC’s crown — the one he nearly had in 2016.

What’s Next? The Clock Is Ticking

Pantoja’s next defense is expected to be in early 2026. If he defends against Van again — or someone else — the UFC risks looking cowardly. Horiguchi is 34, not 24. He doesn’t have another nine years to wait. The organization knows this. They signed him to a multi-fight deal after his six-fight unbeaten streak. They didn’t bring him back to watch him fade.

There’s another layer: Horiguchi’s career arc. He left the UFC after losing his only title shot. Now, he’s asking for another — and he’s doing it on his terms. He didn’t wait for an invitation. He forced the issue with a performance that silenced doubters. If the UFC denies him, they’ll be accused of favoritism — or worse, fear.

Legacy in the Making

Kyoji Horiguchi didn’t just win a fight. He rewrote the script. He showed that veterans don’t disappear — they evolve. He proved that experience still beats hype. And he dared to challenge his own teammate for the most coveted prize in MMA.

It’s messy. It’s bold. It’s beautiful. And if the UFC doesn’t make this fight, they’re not just ignoring a title contender — they’re ignoring history.