Kyoji Horiguchi on Rizin’s differing ruleset and Sergio Pettis Bellator 272 bout
Kyoji Horiguchi tests skills against Sergio Pettis on Friday, December 3rd in a high-stakes bantamweight bout.
Bellator 272 emanates from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The event broadcasts on Showtime and this Horiguchi versus Pettis fight is for the bantamweight world championship in the evening’s main event.
Horiguchi is currently the Rizin bantamweight world champion but also has had a prior reign as Bellator’s 135-pound kingpin. The Bellator belt was something that Kyoji Horiguchi never lost in the cage.
The American Top Team product had to forfeit the crown as the result of an injury. Since returning to action and regaining his Rizin belt, Horiguchi now aims to once again become the dual organization champion.
He looks to regain that familiar hardware and notch his thirtieth win as a professional mixed martial artist in the process.
Standing in his way is a man who is unbeaten under the Bellator banner in Sergio Pettis. A man who aims to further cement himself as the undisputed king of the division in his first title defense since beating Juan Archuleta at Bellator 258.
Pettis looks to do this by besting the prior ruler who is locked in on securing his second reign with the title.
I spoke with Horiguchi at the pre-fight virtual media day. The excerpt from our interaction is below.
Kyoji Horiguchi
Horiguchi’s last fight being in Rizin, differing rule sets, and if his training methodology differs between preparing for a Rizin fight versus a Bellator bout
“Of course the opponent is the difference. So I’m preparing a different way. However basically, I am making some strategy to beat him up right now.”
Having a deep MMA resume and where Sergio Pettis ranks among previous fighters Horiguchi has fought
“Oh, he’s really great fighter because he has the belt right now. So I’m going to get the belt back.”
