Kyoji Horiguchi

By FCF Staff

Bellator has bolstered its roster, as recently Scott Coker announced that the promotion has signed decorated bantamweight, Kyoji Horiguchi.

Recently, Horiguchi reported that he is no longer signed with RIZIN and that he was a free agent. Since then, Bellator’s President, the aforementioned Coker, confirmed Horiguchi is headed back to the Bellator cage.

We have signed former@BellatorMMA Bantamweight World Champion
@Kyoji1012. Horiguchi and I can’t wait to see him compete in our stacked bantamweight division.

We have signed former @BellatorMMA Bantamweight World Champion @Kyoji1012 Horiguchi and I can’t wait to see him compete in our stacked bantamweight division. pic.twitter.com/m2YKHJf2J0

— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) September 10, 2021

The 30-year-old fighter won Bellator’s bantamweight title in 2019, by recording a decision win over Darrion Caldwell. At the time, Horiguchi was also RIZIN’s bantamweight champ.

The Japanese star ended up vacating both belts, after incurring a knee injury. Horiguchi (29-3) reclaimed RIZIN’s bantamweight title this past New Year’s Eve, by avenging his loss to Kai Asakura, with a stoppage win.

Horiguchi competed for the UFC from 2013 through 2016 and went 7-1. His only loss came against now former champ, Demetrious Johnson in 2015.