Fight Roundup: Ex-UFC contender Ray Borg makes Bellator debut against Kyoji Horiguchi on April 22

Fights come collectively quick today, and in case you blink, you possibly can simply miss them. In Battle Roundup, we carry you the newest reported matchups to maintain you updated with what’s on the horizon.

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A pivotal Bellator bantamweight matchup is headed to Hawaii.

Kyoji Horiguchi (31-5) is about to tackle former UFC flyweight contender and promotional debutant Ray Borg (16-5) at Bellator 295, which takes place at Neal S. Blaisdell Middle in Honolulu on April 22. The matchup was first reported to be in dialogue by ESPN.

The occasion marks Horiguchi’s return to Honolulu. He most lately fought there in April 2022, dropping a unanimous determination to Patchy Mix within the quarterfinals of the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix. Horiguchi has bounced again with consecutive wins since then, together with a unanimous determination win over Hiromasa Ougikubo on the Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN present this previous December. The 32-year-old beforehand held 135-pound titles in Bellator and RIZIN and he challenged Demetrious Johnson for the UFC flyweight title in April 2015.

Borg can also be a former UFC flyweight contender, having fought Johnson in a championship bout at UFC 216. “The Tazmexican Satan” noticed inconsistent outcomes after that, going simply 2-2 within the UFC whereas struggling to make weight at each 125 and 135 kilos. Since parting methods with the UFC in 2020, Borg has received three straight fights.

Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Bantamweights Montel Jackson and Rani Yahya may even compete on April 22 at a UFC APEX occasion in Las Vegas. The bout was first announced by Jackson’s administration.

Jackson (12-2) makes his first look of 2023 after defeating Julio Arce at UFC 281 this previous November. He has received three straight fights and 6 of his previous seven.

Yahya (28-10, 1 NC) returns to the after lacking out on his total 2022 marketing campaign. The Brazilian veteran was twice scheduled to combat former UFC champion Cody Garbrandt, however each occasions was pressured to withdraw. In his most up-to-date outing in November 2021, Yahya received a unanimous determination over Kyung Ho Kang. His UFC file stands at 13-4-1 (1 NC).

Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

The UFC’s April 29 occasion might not have a location but, however it has added two extra bouts to the lineup with jiu-jitsu ace Rodolfo Vieira taking up Cody Brundage in a middleweight bout and Josh Quinlan combating Ange Loosa at welterweight.

Vieira vs. Brundage is a rescheduling from UFC Vegas 65, which Vieira was pressured to withdraw from. Eurosport was first to report the brand new reserving.

Vieira (8-2) seems to be to rebound from a call loss to Chris Curtis after a third-round submission of Dustin Stoltzfus put him again within the win column. He’s 3-2 since making his UFC debut in 2020.

Following the cancellation of his combat with Vieira, Brundage (8-3) as an alternative fought Michal Oleksiejczuk a month later at UFC Vegas 66. Brundage misplaced that combat by first-round knockout, dropping his UFC file to 2-2.

Quinlan (6-0, 1 NC) seems to be to stay undefeated in his second UFC combat when he takes on Loosa (9-3). Each fighters most lately fought this previous August, with Quinlan scoring a first-round knockout of Jason Witt in his UFC debut, and Loosa outpointing A.J. Fletcher.

The bout was first announced by Quinlan’s administration.

Picture by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs

Edmen Shahbazyan has a tricky activity forward of him if he needs to get a win streak going as he subsequent takes on rising middleweight contender Anthony Hernandez on Might 20 at a location nonetheless to be decided.

The bout was first reported by ESPN.

Shahbazyan (12-3) snapped a three-fight dropping skid this previous December at UFC 282, the place he defeated Dalcha Lungiambula by second-round knockout. If Shahbazyan can get previous Hernandez, he’ll file consecutive victories for the primary time since November 2019.

Hernandez (10-2, 1 NC) is already on a sizzling streak, having received his final three fights. “Fluffy” defeated Marc-Andre Barriault through third-round technical submission this previous September to observe up victories towards Josh Fremd and Rodolfo Vieira.