RIZIN 38 video: Kyoji Horiguchi survives knockdown, rallies for submission

Kyoji Horiguchi returned to Rizin FF for the first time since December 2020, and he got a much-needed win.

After suffering back-to-back losses under, former Bellator and Rizin bantamweight champ Horiguchi (30-5) went back to his native Japan for a clash with Yuto Hokamura (14-12-2) in the main event of RIZIN 38.

The fight, which took place at the famous Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, saw Horiguchi forced to overcome to adversity. Hokamura knocked him down in the first round before Horiguchi got it to the ground in the second round and locked in an arm-triangle choke for the finish.

Check out the replay of Horiguchi’s being knocked down then scoring the finish (via Twitter):

The result was an important one for Horiguchi. He was the recipient of the 2021 Knockout of the Year against Sergio Pettis at Bellator 272, then was unable to advance in the Bellator bantamweight grand prix when he lost a unanimous decision in his opening-round bout with Patchy Mix at Bellator 279 in April.

Horiguchi took some time off to recalibrate, and looked sharp in his return fora win that should set him up for bigger fights again going forward.

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie