Kyoji Horiguchi`s planned return to the UFC in June is off. Originally scheduled to fight Tagir Ulanbekov at the promotion`s debut event in Baku, Azerbaijan on June 21, Horiguchi has been withdrawn for undisclosed reasons.
Azat Maksum will now step in to face Ulanbekov, accepting the fight on short notice with the event taking place in roughly four weeks` time.
This change was confirmed by multiple sources familiar with the promotion`s plans, following an initial report.
It`s an unfortunate delay for Horiguchi and likely a disappointing switch for Ulanbekov, who trained under Khabib Nurmagomedov and misses out on a potentially significant flyweight bout.
Instead, Ulanbekov draws Maksum, who holds a 1-1 record in the UFC, with a win over Tyson Nam and a loss to Charles Johnson.
This fight offers Ulanbekov the opportunity to secure his fourth consecutive victory, having previously defeated Clayton Carpenter, Cody Durden, and Nate Maness.
The UFC Baku event is set for June 21, headlined by a light heavyweight fight between former champion Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr.
Marcus Blakely