WATCH | Kyoji Horiguchi gets shockingly knocked out in 68 seconds at RIZIN 18

RIZIN FF and Bellator bantamweight champion, Kyoji Horiguchi returned to the cage in the main event of RIZIN 18.

There, the champ was taking Kai Asakura in a non-title bout.

Why the title was not on the line was unknown but RIZIN FF CEO, Nobuyuki Sakakibara said this when the fight was announced:

“Kyoji Horiguchi may just be the best bantamweight in the world at the moment,” Sakakibara said at a press conference. “And out of all the options we had, I do believe that Kai Asakura is the best option who would be able to fight Horiguchi with the most motivation and determination. He’s young, hungry and has been our rising bantamweight and most of all, he will be taking on the greatest fighter in his hometown in front of hundreds of his supporters.”

It turns out, that was true as Asakura knocked out Horiguchi in just 68 seconds in a massive upset. The champ was 28-2 at that point and had never been knocked out before. The only time he was finished is when Demetrious Johnson submitted him at UFC 186.

Asakura came hot out of the gate and landed a hard punch that dropped Kyoji Horiguchi. He then continued to press forward and knocked the champ out cold with a plethora of strikes.