On 21 November 2026 at UFC Fight Night, Japan's Kyoji Horiguchi (36-6-0) meets Kazakhstan's Asu Almabayev (24-3-0) in a flyweight bout.
Kyoji Horiguchi: title-level experience
Horiguchi is a former RIZIN bantamweight champion and a former UFC flyweight title challenger, having lost to Demetrious Johnson in 2015. His strengths are speed, counter-timing and takedown defence; public reports suggest he trains at American Top Team.
Asu Almabayev: wrestling and pressure
Almabayev has competed in the UFC since 2023 and, per public reports, sits near the title picture of the division. He leans on folkstyle-style wrestling, fence control and a high pace, though he faces an opponent who is dangerous in exchanges and reads entries well.
What the matchup tests
The central question is Almabayev's grappling pace against Horiguchi's accuracy on the feet. The bout will also show whether the Japanese veteran retains his speed against a younger opponent.
| Fighter A | Kyoji Horiguchi (Japan) |
|---|---|
| Fighter B | Asu Almabayev (Kazakhstan) |
| Records | 36-6-0 / 24-3-0 |
| Division | Flyweight (125 lb) |
| Event and date | UFC Fight Night, 21 Nov 2026 |
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