Kyoji Horiguchi reportedly fights Asu Almabayev at UFC Qatar on Nov. 21, per MMA Sucka; the UFC hasn't announced it, and Kape faces champion Joshua Van on Jan. 30.
What we know
- Champion Joshua Van defends against Manel Kape at UFC 336 on Jan. 30, 2027 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
- Horiguchi lost by third-round knockout to Kape in June; Almabayev lost to Kape in March 2025.
Reported, not confirmed
- Horiguchi vs. Almabayev is a flyweight bout reportedly planned for UFC Qatar; the UFC has not announced it. MMA Sucka
- Cageside Press lists the bout for Nov. 21 and ranks Almabayev No. 5 and Horiguchi No. 8. Cageside Press
Two flyweights who both lost to the same man are reportedly set to meet in Qatar, and the winner would sit close to the next title conversation. MMA Sucka reported that Kyoji Horiguchi will fight Asu Almabayev at the UFC's Qatar event in November. Cageside Press has the bout down for Nov. 21. The UFC hasn't confirmed it.
The common thread is Manel Kape. He knocked out Horiguchi in June, in a fight Horiguchi appeared to be leading early. Yahoo's Sportsnaut rankings scored it probably two rounds for Horiguchi before Kape took over, and MMA Fighting had it as a third-round knockout. Kape now fights champion Joshua Van at UFC 336 on Jan. 30, 2027, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, as announced during the UFC 333 broadcast.
Horiguchi (36-6) spent close to a decade outside the UFC before returning. He stopped Tagir Ulanbekov in late 2025 and beat Amir Albazi on the cards in February, then lost to Kape. Cageside ranks him No. 8.
Almabayev (22-3) arrived from M1 and Brave CF on a 13-fight win streak. Kape beat him in March 2025 in a result Cageside called somewhat controversial, his first loss in eight years. Since then he has beaten Jose Ochoa and stopped Charles Johnson and Alex Perez, the Perez win by submission. Cageside ranks him No. 5 and puts him at 7-1 in the Octagon.
Knockout Daily's writer picks Almabayev by decision, arguing Horiguchi faded late against Kape. Cageside suggests Ramazan Temirov (20-3) as a possible opponent for the loser. Watch for an official UFC announcement of the bout.
The common thread is Manel Kape. He knocked out Horiguchi in June, in a fight Horiguchi appeared to be leading early. Yahoo's Sportsnaut rankings scored it probably two rounds for Horiguchi before Kape took over, and MMA Fighting had it as a third-round knockout. Kape now fights champion Joshua Van at UFC 336 on Jan. 30, 2027, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, as announced during the UFC 333 broadcast.
Horiguchi (36-6) spent close to a decade outside the UFC before returning. He stopped Tagir Ulanbekov in late 2025 and beat Amir Albazi on the cards in February, then lost to Kape. Cageside ranks him No. 8.
Almabayev (22-3) arrived from M1 and Brave CF on a 13-fight win streak. Kape beat him in March 2025 in a result Cageside called somewhat controversial, his first loss in eight years. Since then he has beaten Jose Ochoa and stopped Charles Johnson and Alex Perez, the Perez win by submission. Cageside ranks him No. 5 and puts him at 7-1 in the Octagon.
Knockout Daily's writer picks Almabayev by decision, arguing Horiguchi faded late against Kape. Cageside suggests Ramazan Temirov (20-3) as a possible opponent for the loser. Watch for an official UFC announcement of the bout.
- Summary
- Kyoji Horiguchi reportedly fights Asu Almabayev at UFC Qatar on Nov. 21, per MMA Sucka; the UFC hasn't announced it, and Kape faces champion Joshua Van on Jan. 30.
- Key points (one per line)
- MMA Sucka reported Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Asu Almabayev for UFC Qatar; Cageside Press lists the flyweight bout for Nov. 21.
Both men lost to Manel Kape, who fights champion Joshua Van at UFC 336 on Jan. 30, 2027.
The UFC has not announced the Qatar fight.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/horiguchi-skips-the-soft-landing-after-kape-loss-draws-asu-almabayev-in-qatar
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Fighters in this story
Asu Almabayev
Kyoji Horiguchi
Joshua Van
Manel KapeSources
Knockout DailySummarized with AI from the sources above. Read the originals for the full story.
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