UFC badly needs Horiguchi back at 125

[NoBiasJustMMA]

The current flyweight champion has a combined 5 wins over the top 2 contenders at 125. Now seems like the best time for Horiguchi to get the most out of a new contract with the UFC. Do you think the UFC will make an attempt to sign Horiguchi or some other top level flyweights or are they going to let the division decline in interest?

Bonus question, who else should the UFC sign at Flyweight to get some fresh contenders for the champion?

 

[usernamee]

give the flyweights brass knuckles and then I'll watch

 

[svmr_db]

Would be a good idea to sign Horiguchi & have him face either Royval or Albazi in a #1 contender's fight.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

Would be a good idea to sign Horiguchi & have him face either Royval or Albazi in a #1 contender's fight.

I like the idea of Horiguchi vs Albazi for the number 1 contender fight. Not so much one with Royval since he has two losses to the champion with one of them happening just 1 fight ago.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

They should definitely sign Kyoji.

I'm not sure there's anyone else who'd be an instant threat outside the UFC who's available. They let Azamat Kerefov and Murad Magomedov go back to ACA because they don't want more Russians.

Guys like Shinryu, Dorzhiev, Kavanagh and Nkuta would be good signings for down the line.


I think they just have to move the next generation of Mokaev, Taira, Van, Estevam etc towards contention and see who has it and who doesn't.

 

[Koala]

Bring back the deaf Russian that has a win over Pantoja

 

[Skarsgard]

Does he want to come back? Seemed like he had a good thing over there.

 

[sonhow]

give the flyweights brass knuckles and then I'll watch

Gucci hits like he has dem brass knuckles compared to rest of the div at least

 

[loisestrad]

Horiguchi. It's more than just Gucci.

Always liked that slogan.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

Does he want to come back? Seemed like he had a good thing over there.

Yes, I can't remember exactly when but I saw an interview in the last 4-5 months where he said he wants to go back to the UFC and stick to flyweight.

 

[Hdfi]

Yes, it would be great to have him back. Very talented fighter, former Bellator champion and current RIZIN champion.

 

[You Will Vote For Dreyga]

Agreed. They should sign him and give him an IMMEDIATE TITLE SHOT.

Who would complain?

 

[Pequeño Corey]

War Gooch.

 

[svmr_db]

Agreed. They should sign him and give him an IMMEDIATE TITLE SHOT.

Who would complain?

That's silly & bad business. His last win in the UFC was in 2016. Don't pander to hardcores in relation to matchmaking, especially for title fights.

Even when UFC brought Jiri in on a good win streak & as a previous Rizin LHW champion he had to win 2 fights before they put him in for a title shot. Doesn't hurt to have some patience & have Horiguchi win 1-2 fights to at least re-familiarize the audience with him before he fights for a title.

 

[NicholasJBasile]

I would love to see Horiguchi back in the UFC, especially at 125.

 

[Killer Kadoogan]

no they don't. no casual ESPN + subscribing fool even knows who he is.

 

[don't ask]

Horiguchi would make a great addition. Love watching him fight.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

That's silly & bad business. His last win in the UFC was in 2016. Don't pander to hardcores in relation to matchmaking, especially for title fights.

Even when UFC brought Jiri in on a good win streak & as a previous Rizin LHW champion he had to win 2 fights before they put him in for a title shot. Doesn't hurt to have some patience & have Horiguchi win 1-2 fights to at least re-familiarize the audience with him before he fights for a title.

Eh they've given immediate title shots to people like Gilbert before.

 

[fortheo]

That's silly & bad business. His last win in the UFC was in 2016. Don't pander to hardcores in relation to matchmaking, especially for title fights.

Even when UFC brought Jiri in on a good win streak & as a previous Rizin LHW champion he had to win 2 fights before they put him in for a title shot. Doesn't hurt to have some patience & have Horiguchi win 1-2 fights to at least re-familiarize the audience with him before he fights for a title.

If gilbert melendez could walk right into a title shot with Benson henderson, then the gooch, who has a winning record in the UFC and multiple titles outside of the UFC, should be able to walk into a title shot, especially since it's in a division that desperately needs a fresh contender. It is extremely easy to market kyoji, and they have tons of footage and a good narrative to use in doing so.

 

[fortheo]

Eh they've given immediate title shots to people like Gilbert before.

Beat me too it.