UFC Fight Night 265: Tagir Ulanbekov vs Kyoji Horiguchi Preview & Prediction
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Tagir Ulanbekov welcomes Kyoji Horiguchi back to the Octagon following an absence of nearly ten years, after their original June match up fell through.
Tagir Ulanbekov vs Kyoji Horiguchi facts
What time are Tagir Ulanbekov and Kyoji Horiguchi expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs Hooker? Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena, Al Rayyan, Qatar
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs Hooker? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs Hooker
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs Hooker on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs Hooker? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night 265: Tsarukyan vs Hooker main card
Arman Tsarukyan vs Dan Hooker (Lightweight)
Belal Muhammad vs Ian Machado Garry (Welterweight)
Volkan Oezdemir vs Alonzo Menifield (Light Heavyweight)
Jack Hermansson vs Myktybek Orolbai (Welterweight)
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Shamil Gaziev (Heavyweight)
Tagir Ulanbekov vs Kyoji Horiguchi (Flyweight)
UFC Fight Night 265: Tsarukyan vs Hooker prelims
Bogdan Grad vs Luke Riley (Featherweight)
Nicolas Dalby vs Saygid Izagakhmaev (Welterweight)
Alex Perez vs Asu Almabayev (Flyweight)
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev vs Rafael Cerqueira (Light Heavyweight)
Bekzat Almakhan vs Aleksandre Topuria (Bantamweight)
Ismail Naurdiev vs Ryan Loder (Middleweight)
Nurullo Aliev vs Shaqueme Rock (Lightweight)
Marek Bujlo vs Denzel Freeman (Heavyweight)
Tagir Ulanbekov: The Russian looks to score his seventh UFC victory and kickstart a title run in earnest
Posting a 6-1 record since joining the promotion in 2020, Tagir Ulanbekov (17-2) has been perfect throughout his UFC tenure outside of a decision loss to Tim Elliott, a contest where the American openly admitted to to cheating in order to secure the victory. At 5'7, Ulanbekov is enormous for the weight class and combines a rangy striking game with smothering grappling pressure to present a formidable challenge at 125 pounds. While the Russian has only competed twice since 2023 due to multiple fight cancellations, he's secured convincing decision victories on both occasions over Azat Maksum and Clayton Carpenter respectively.
Kyoji Horiguchi: The Japanese standout returns to the UFC after an absence of almost a decade
Initially leaving the UFC with a record of 7-1 back in 2016, Kyoji Horiguchi (34-5, 1 NC) returns to the promotion with a reputation as one of the greatest flyweights in MMA history courtesy of his exploits in Rizin and Bellator. While he's had his fair share of setbacks throughout the course of a legendary career, Horiguchi owns wins over the likes of Manel Kape, Sergio Pettis, and Kai Asakura to underline his credentials as a flyweight great. A perennial finishing threat with twenty professional stoppages to his name, "The Gooch's" only UFC loss came at the hands of divisional GOAT, Demetrious Johnson.
Tagir Ulanbekov vs Kyoji Horiguchi prediction
Horiguchi has seemingly aged like a fine wine since a rough two fight skid back in 2021 had many calling for his retirement. The ATT standout hasn't lost in the six fights since, with the sole blemish during that patch coming in the form of an unfortunate NC due to eye poke against Makoto Shinryu; a result that he would put right by way of second round submission in their rematch less than a year later. He's got elite striking to go with superb grappling ability, and he's more than capable of showing levels in this one.
However, Ulanbekov is a seriously good flyweight. In addition to being the younger, less battle worn fighter, he's got a significant size and reach advantage here. As such, Horiguchi's clearest path to victory would accordingly seem to be through the grappling, an area where Ulanbekov absolutely thrives. He's got a slight edge in the stats over Horiguchi when it comes to shooting and defending takedowns, meaning that "The Gooch" could well find himself getting pot shotted on the feet on the wrong end of a significant reach disadvantage if he can't drag the action to the mat.
The classic match up of youth vs experience, this one could conceivably go either way. The oddsmakers might be leaning towards Ulanbekov here, but the tentative pick is for Horiguchi's experience and craft to win through.
Prediction: Kyoji Horiguchi to win
