Issue 086
March 2012
The best young talent in Japanese MMA has his sights set on becoming a UFC champion
NEED TO KNOW
NAME Kyoji Horiguchi
AGE 21
STARTED 2010
TEAM Krazy Bee
DIVISION Bantamweight
STYLE Karate, MMA
RECORD 6-1
The 21-year-old Krazy-Bee product had an impressive, albeit short amateur career: pushed into the professional leagues after only five fights as he proved too be dangerous for his opponents. In 2010, after just two pro fights, he became the main sparring partner to Japanese legend Norifumi ‘Kid’ Yamamoto and has not missed a step since, destroying all but one of his opponents in one-sided beatings and five knockouts, capturing the 2010 Shooto Rookie Tournament and grand prix MVP honors along the way.
Despite losing for the first time in January, against former Shooto bantamweight champion and recent Bellator FC signee Masakatsu Ueda, Horiguchi is a rising star and so Fighters Only tracked him down to discuss his promising career and the unusual foundation he brings to MMA.
How did you get into mixed martial arts?
“I learn sundome (non-contact) karate and I just always wanted to try full-contact martial arts. Also, I saw that Kid Yamamoto was able to beat up all those bigger guys despite his small size. I wanted to become like that.”
What was your sports experience before getting into MMA?
“Mainly karate. I’ve had countless karate fights since I was five years old. My best result in karate was in my last year of high school where I won the state championship. At the inter-high level I also made the final 36, I think. After that I went 5-0 as an amateur in Shooto.”
Unusually, you were promoted out of the Shooto amateur system quite quickly as you proved to be too dangerous for the other fighters. Why do you think you were able to achieve so much success as an amateur?
“I was able to really establish my style during my amateur career and that helped me a lot in different ways. I had a strong foundation with my karate and I practice that to support my MMA technique.”
How has the transition to professional been for you? Have you changed anything?
“I haven’t changed anything at all since becoming pro. I still keep my karate training and MMA separate. For karate, I’m continuing the non-contact style. For MMA I train everything – striking, submissions and wrestling. My routine is to do weight training in the morning, sparring three times a week and karate once a week.”
A foundation of non-contact karate is quite unique in MMA. What do you think it brings to MMA?
“Non-contact karate gives you a kind of sense and speed that other fight arts do not, so that makes it an outstanding style for MMA. It definitely can be effective in mixed martial arts.”
What is the history and theory behind your style of karate?
“I actually have no idea what the philosophy or history of non-contact karate is.”
What is your favorite part of MMA?
“Obviously striking because my background is karate. I am learning ground techniques too though.”
Do you intend to become a well-rounded fighter or will you continue to focus on your striking?
“I want to continue making karate my main strength in MMA.”
What has been your best bout so far?
“My most recent KO against Naohiro ‘Gamon Chokugeki’ Mizuno. That was a perfect fight.”
You have a lot of hype surrounding you right now and a lot of people are making comparisons with your sparring partner, Kid Yamamoto. Do you feel any pressure to live up to expectations?
“Not at all, though I am trying not to think about it.”What is your career goal?
“My goal is to be champion of the UFC. I’ve attended the UFC several times already and I want to be a part of it. I think there are a lot of well-rounded, balanced fighters in the UFC. My dream is to become champion there so I train with that in mind.”
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