Kyoji Horiguchi Withdraws from Octagon Return at UFC Baku

Kyoji Horiguchi won’t be making his Octagon return at UFC Baku as originally anticipated.

The former flyweight title challenger has withdrawn from a proposed matchup with Tagir Ulanbekov for undisclosed reasons. Instead, Azat Maksum will step in and face Ulanbekov at the June 21 event. Red Corner MMA was first to report the change.

UFC Baku — also known as UFC on ABC 8 — marks the promotion’s debut in Azerbaijan and is headlined by a light heavyweight duel pitting Jamahal Hill against Khalil Rountree.

Earlier this year, Horiguchi vacated his Rizin Fighting Federation flyweight belt to sign with the UFC, where he previously competed from 2013 to 2016. Horiguchi went 7-1 during his UFC tenure, with his only loss coming in a flyweight title bout against then champion Demetrious Johnson in April 2015. The 34-year-old American Top Team representative has gone 14-1 with one no contest under the Rizin banner, earning notable victories over the likes of Manel Kape, Ian McCall, Darrion Caldwell, Kai Asakura and Sergio Pettis, among others. He also enjoyed a brief stint as Bellator and Rizin bantamweight champion.

Ulanbekov is 5-1 in the Octagon and has won his last three outings. Most recently, the 33-year-old Dagestani outpointed Clayton Carpenter at UFC 311.

Kazakhstan’s Maksum began his professional tenure with 15 consecutive triumphs, including a split-decision triumph against Tyson Nam in his promotional debut at UFC on ESPN 49. In his last outing, Maksum dropped a unanimous verdict to Charles Johnson at UFC Fight Night 235 on Feb. 3.