This is the UFC Vegas 113 live blog for Amir Albazi vs. Kyoji Horiguchi, the flyweight co-main event Saturday in Las Vegas.
Currently tied for the No. 8 spot in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, Albazi joined the UFC in 2020 and immediately made noise, stringing together five consecutive wins to get to the cusp of title contention. However, Albazi lost his most recent fight, a unanimous decision to former two-time champion Brandon Moreno at UFC Edmonton in 2024, and has not competed since. Injury issues kept Albazi out of the cage for 15 months, but now he’s finally back and ready to reassert his claim to being one of the best flyweights alive.
There’s not much left for Horiguchi, ranked No. 3, to accomplish in MMA. During his first UFC stint, Horiguchi fought for the flyweight title, losing to all-time great Demetrious Johnson by a literal last-second armbar. Shortly after that, Horiguchi left the promotion and started racking up accomplishments, winning the Bellator bantamweight title, and the RIZIN bantamweight and flyweight titles. Horiguchi returned to the UFC last year and ran through Tagir Ulanbekov, and if he can do the same to Albazi, it won’t be long before he’s fighting for the flyweight title again.
Check out the live blog for Amir Albazi vs. Kyoji Horiguchi below.
Let us never talk about that Jailton Almeida vs. Rizvan Kuniev fight again. It was dreadful.
This, hopefully, will not be.
Walkouts and Announcements
Kyoji out first in black shorts and grinning from ear to ear. What a very happy man.
And so is Albazi. He’s positively beaming as he makes his way to the cage in white shorts.
Amir is 3 years younger, 1 inch taller, and has a 5-inch reach advantage.
Joe Martinez kicks things off. Both men looking very confident. Game time.
Both men out in orthodox and Kyoji right to the movement and bouncing. Amir trying to cut him off, both men feinting a lot. Kyoji lands a nice right hand early off the leaping jab. Then a low kick. He’s darting in and out. This time he comes in and grabs a clinch and pushes Amir to the fence. Clinch work and some knees from both men. Kyoji tries to drop down to the hips but Amir defends and break to space.
Another leaping right hand lands for Kyoji. And another. And another. Amir is much bigger but the speed is killing him. He grabs a leg but Kyoji spins out. Looping check hook lands for Kyoji as Amir steps in. He’s moving so much. And then jumps into a 1-2 that lands. Right hooks from both men. And Amir lands a straight left as Kyoji is backing up that sends him to the canvas. Slip, not a knockdown and Kyoji rols to his feet.
Now Amir is pressuring and gets a body lock, trying to drag Kyoji to the mat. Clinch work with Amir in control now. Not much happens and the finally break. Kyoji putting pressure to end the round and lands a body kick.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi.
Amir back on the forward pressure as Kyoji bounces. Amir catches a kick and uses it to run Kyoji to the fence. He’s working on the hips, trying to get a takedown but Kyoji defending well. Amir not doing damage in this clinch, which is maybe a missed opportunity. He’s focused on the takedown and it’s not coming. And Kyoji spins out to space.
1-2 for Kyoji. Thena. sharp left hook for Kyoji as Amir committed. Kyoji on the attack now and Amir’s back is to the fence. His eyes are WIDE. And he bit HARD on a feint from Kyoji. Kyojicracks him with a right! Albazi is on weak legs! Kyoji staying in his face but Amir circles and works his way back into this. Kyoji sticking him with the jab at will now. And Amir is all retreat. He can’t win like this.
Leaping right hook for Kyoji. Nasty stepping jab. Then a left hook. He’s tagging Albazi liberally. Amir ducking in and winging shots now. Might be his best chance at this point. Because Kyoji’s feints are opening Amir up and then he’s pouncing. Now Kyoji pushes Amir to the fence with the clinch. Amir spins him and has a body lock, trying for a trip. He’s getting close! But Kyoji is very tough to take down and he breaks free!
Kyoji coming forward with 30 seconds left. Amir trying to trade but Kyoji’s jab is eating him up.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi, 20-18 Horiguchi overall.
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