Bellator MMA and RIZIN champion Kyoji Horiguchi has been forced to vacate his Bellator bantamweight title, the mixed martial arts promotion announced on Wednesday, November 27. According to the announcement, Horiguchi suffered a “severe injury” that will require surgery.
In order to not hold up the division, Bellator will be moving forward by crowning a new champion.
However, Horiguchi will be able to reclaim his spot on the top of the throne by having an immediate title shot when he is healthy enough to return.
“I feel terrible for Kyoji [Horiguchi] about the injury he suffered to his knee, but in the true spirit of martial arts and being a true champion, he has elected to vacate his title and allow the division to move forward in his absence,” Bellator President Scott Coker said. “After fully healing, we plan to give Kyoji an immediate title shot.”
The 29-year-old claimed the Bellator bantamweight championship with a decision win over Darrion Caldwell at Bellator 222 in New York City on June 14, 2019.
We wish Horiguchi a full and speedy recovery.
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About Bellator MMA
Bellator is a leading global mixed martial arts and kickboxing promotion featuring many of the best athletes in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on both Paramount Network and DAZN, the world’s first truly dedicated LIVE sports streaming service. Bellator is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
