(This story originally published in Friday’s print edition of USA TODAY.)
NEW YORK – Kyoji Horiguchi has an opportunity to write a new page in mixed martial arts history on Friday night at Bellator 222.
While capturing multiple belts is all the rage in MMA these days, Horiguchi is looking to put a new spin on the accomplishment.
Horiguchi (27-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), who is arguably the most skilled Japanese fighter in MMA history, is the current bantamweight champion of Rizin FF, the leading promotion in his home country.
In a rare cross-promotional effort, Horiguchi will bring his talents stateside for the first time since January 2015 when he challenges Bellator champ Darrion Caldwell (13-2, 10-1) in hopes of becoming the sport’s first simultaneous dual-organization titleholder.
“My goal is to help build and make this sport even better and bigger and more recognized,” Horiguchi told USA TODAY Sports through an interpreter. “If I go out there and become a two-promotion champion, a lot will change with the exposure of the sport. Especially the Japanese MMA scene will become bigger.”
Horiguchi, 28, has lost just once in his past 22 fights. That came in a UFC title fight with then-champ Demetrious Johnson more than four years ago, and he’s since reeled off 12 consecutive wins.
One of those wins was a submission of Caldwell in a December title fight with Rizin FF. Bellator sent its champion overseas to face Horiguchi, who won with a choke in the third round.
Now Rizin FF returns the favor by sending Horiguchi to Bellator for the rematch, and Bellator president Scott Coker says it’s a transformative moment for the sport.
“These fights don’t happen, where the champ is fighting another champ in a real legitimate league like Bellator and Rizin,” Coker said. “It’s a very rare opportunity, and if he wins he proved that he is one of the greatest fighters in his weight class.”
Although it hasn’t come under the American sporting spotlight, Horiguchi has rapidly evolved into one of the world’s best. Now he wants to prove that to fans stateside by claiming the Bellator belt.
“I’m overall a much better, more well rounded fighter,” Horiguchi said. “Every aspect of my game has been better, and I do believe I’m a much more complete fighter than I used to be.”
Winning a second title would be a significant accomplishment for Horiguchi. However, he’s more concerned about what it means for the sport. He wants to see MMA experience global growth and believes making history would go a long way.
Horiguchi’s promoter, Rizin FF president Nobuyuki Sakakibara, has a vision that aligns with Horiguchi. He believes cross-promotion is healthy, and this scenario has more upside than down.
“For us, we need the challenge,” Sakakibara said. “We need to take the risk and don’t fear the risks of sending over a champion to fight a champion. That was the idea. Cross-promoting is a fantastic thing for the sport.”
With a major opportunity afforded to him, the onus now falls on Horiguchi, who says he’s ready to deliver.
“If I become champion of two promotions, this won’t be just for me,” he said. “It will be more for the sport, and this will be the first step for our sport to grow.”
For more on Bellator 222, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.
