Overview
- Kyoji Horiguchi returned to the UFC after more than eight years and submitted Tagir Ulanbekov in Round 2 at Fight Night 265 in Qatar, then called out Alexandre Pantoja in the cage.
- Alexandre Pantoja said he would sign a Horiguchi title-fight contract if the UFC offers it after UFC 323, describing the potential matchup as "a present."
- Pantoja and Horiguchi are longtime training partners at American Top Team, and the champion praised Horiguchi’s role in elevating his game despite the prospect of fighting a friend.
- Pantoja defends his flyweight belt against rising contender Joshua Van on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas, framing the bout as a clash of generations and stressing full focus on this assignment.
- Horiguchi is a former RIZIN and Bellator champion, and Pantoja noted a UFC title would position him as a rare holder of major belts across those organizations.