Kyoji Horiguchi returns to Doha on November 21 to face Asu Almabayev at UFC Qatar, the promotion’s 2nd event in the country. Horiguchi, 36-6, is coming off a TKO loss to Manel Kape in June. Almabayev, 24-3, has won 3 straight since his own loss to Kape, and the winner steps into the queue behind the flyweight title picture.
Key takeaways
- Kyoji Horiguchi (36-6) faces Asu Almabayev (24-3) at flyweight at UFC Qatar in Doha on November 21.
- Horiguchi was stopped by Manel Kape in round 3 in June, after a decision win over Amir Albazi in February.
- Almabayev has won 3 in a row since losing to Kape in March 2025, the last by Suloev stretch over Charles Johnson at UFC Baku.
Kyoji Horiguchi back in Doha
The city of his UFC return
Doha is where Horiguchi came back to the UFC. At the first UFC Qatar, on November 22, 2025, he submitted Tagir Ulanbekov with a rear-naked choke at 2:18 of round 3, then called out Alexandre Pantoja, his own teammate, on the microphone.
A win, then a stoppage
In February he beat Amir Albazi by unanimous decision. In June, against Manel Kape, he was winning the exchanges and the wrestling before a single strike changed the fight, and the referee stopped it at 2:42 of round 3. At 35, the former RIZIN and Bellator champion is rebuilding, not starting over.
A record built over 42 fights
Horiguchi’s 36 wins include 15 knockouts and 6 submissions. He has already fought for the UFC title, against Demetrious Johnson in 2015.
Asu Almabayev and his 3-fight run
Since Kape, only wins
Almabayev lost to Kape by TKO in March 2025. He has not lost since: a unanimous decision over Jose Ochoa, a guillotine choke on Alex Perez, and a Suloev stretch on Charles Johnson in round 3 at UFC Baku on June 27, one of the rarest submissions in the sport.
A path through Europe and Asia
The Kazakh fighter from Almaty, 32, came up through M-1 Global, where he won the interim flyweight title in 2019, and fought in BRAVE CF, ACB and Fight Nights Global before the UFC. His UFC record stands at 6 wins and 1 loss.
Why Horiguchi is the right test
Almabayev has beaten solid names, but not a fighter of Horiguchi’s level. A win over a former champion of 2 organisations is the kind of result that moves a contender up the list rather than along it.
I feel really good because I come back to the UFC – this is my dream. I want to get the UFC belt.
What Horiguchi vs Almabayev means for the division
The Kape connection
Both men have lost to Manel Kape, and Kape is the name expected to face champion Joshua Van next, after Van kept his title against Pantoja at UFC 331. The Doha winner does not jump the queue, but he lands right behind it.
2 styles, one clear question
Horiguchi’s speed and wrestling against Almabayev’s pressure and submissions. The question is simple: who can impose his game for 3 rounds against a man who has already beaten the best in the weight class?
Compare them with real numbers
Full records, finish rates and our weekly ratings for both flyweights are in the FightHub app. Download it to compare Horiguchi and Almabayev before November 21.
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