TLDR
- Kyoji Horiguchi returned to UFC after eight years and submitted Tagir Ulanbekov in the second round at UFC Fight Night 265 in Qatar
- Horiguchi called out his American Top Team teammate and friend Alexandre Pantoja for a title fight
- Pantoja accepted the challenge and praised Horiguchi’s performance, saying his teammate helped him win the UFC belt
- Pantoja must first defend his title against Joshua Van at UFC 323 on December 6 in Las Vegas
- If the fight happens, Horiguchi would become the only fighter to hold championships in RIZIN, Bellator, and UFC
Alexandre Pantoja has accepted a potential title fight against his training partner Kyoji Horiguchi. The UFC flyweight champion responded to Horiguchi’s callout following his return to the octagon this past weekend.
Horiguchi made his UFC comeback on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 265 in Qatar after more than eight years away. The 35-year-old fighter submitted Tagir Ulanbekov in the second round at ABHA Arena in Doha. Ulanbekov entered the fight ranked 11th in the flyweight division.
After the victory, Horiguchi grabbed the microphone and called out Pantoja for a title shot. The two fighters train together regularly at American Top Team in Florida. They have previously discussed the possibility of fighting each other for UFC gold.
Pantoja holds a 30-5 professional record with 14 wins and 3 losses in the UFC. He responded on Monday, expressing happiness for his teammate’s performance. The champion said Horiguchi looked perfect in the fight and that Tagir is a very good fighter.
The Brazilian champion credited Horiguchi with helping him reach championship level. Pantoja said he knows 100 percent that having Horiguchi as a teammate is why he won the UFC belt. He called Horiguchi one of his hardest training partners at the gym.
Pantoja Faces Joshua Van First
Pantoja has a scheduled title defense before any fight with Horiguchi can happen. He will face Joshua Van at UFC 323 on December 6 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Van holds a 15-2 record with 8 wins and 1 loss in the UFC and is ranked number one in the division.
The champion said he cannot think about Horiguchi right now because Van is a very good fighter. Pantoja acknowledged that Van presents a real challenge in less than two weeks. The fight will air on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
Pantoja said fighting Horiguchi would be very special if he defeats Van. The champion called it a present and said it represents a lot to fight someone very important in his life. However, he knows it will be hard mentally to hurt his friend in the octagon.
Horiguchi has won championships in both RIZIN and Bellator during his career. His UFC record stands at 8-1, with his only loss coming in a title fight against Demetrious Johnson in 2015. A UFC title would make him the only fighter to hold belts in all three major organizations.
Training Partners Willing to Compete
Pantoja said he feels honored and grateful at the possibility of defending against Horiguchi. The champion mentioned that Horiguchi is the only person he could make trash talk with. He expressed confidence that they could continue training together even during fight preparation.
The situation contrasts with other instances in UFC history where teammates refused to fight each other. UFC CEO Dana White has criticized fighters in the past for not taking fights against training partners. Some teammate matchups have created problems in gyms.
Pantoja believes his situation with Horiguchi would be different because of their mutual respect. He said they could potentially train together one week before the fight. The champion noted that Horiguchi finished Ulanbekov with a rear-naked choke, which is also Pantoja’s signature move.
The champion emphasized that when fighters step into the octagon, everything becomes 50/50. Age and past results do not matter once the cage door closes. Pantoja has tremendous respect for his sport and understands the unpredictable nature of fighting.
Horiguchi’s callout has generated interest in the flyweight division. His performance against Ulanbekov showed he still competes at an elite level after years away from the UFC. The 35-year-old looked sharp in his submission victory.
Pantoja must now focus on Van before any plans with Horiguchi can move forward. The December 6 title defense will determine if the teammate matchup becomes reality. Van represents a real threat to Pantoja’s championship reign as the top-ranked contender.
