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Kyoji Horiguchi will have a different challenge in his return to the Rizin ring.
The Japanese promotion announced Friday that Horiguchi, winner of seven fights in a row since leaving the UFC less than two years ago, will return to action in a kickboxing fight with unbeaten talent Tenshin Nasukawa at Rizin 13, scheduled for Sept. 30 in Saitama, Japan.
The fight will take place at a 58kg (127.8 pounds) weight limit.
Nasukawa, 4-0 in MMA, holds a perfect 27-0 record in kickboxing with 21 knockouts. The 20-year-old prospect has competed eight times under the Rizin banner, finishing three of his opponents in MMA and stopping four opponents in kickboxing or mixed rules fights.
Horiguchi (25-2) has looked unstoppable since returning to his native country in 2016, including a nine-second knockout over Ian McCall. Riding a 10-fight winning streak, which includes UFC victories over Chico Camus, Neil Seery and Ali Bagautinov, the flyweight talent also won a 135-pound Grand Prix and a bantamweight belt in 2017.
The event will also feature the return of Mirko Cro Cop (36-11-2). Riding an eight-fight stoppage streak, which includes winning the 2016 Rizin Openweight Grand Prix, the longtime veteran, who turns 44 in September, faces Roque Martinez (12-3-2), who hasn’t lost in nine fights and finished Jerome LeBanner in his Rizin debut.
A thrilling lightweight bout between Daron Cruickshank and Diego Brandao for the Saitama Super Arena has also been announced. Both fighters competed on the same night at Rizin 11 in July, with Cruickshank (21-10, 1 no-contest) stopping Tom Santos and Brandao (23-12) knocking out Satoru Kitaoka in 90 seconds.
Check the complete Rizin 13 card below.
Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Tenshin Nasukawa — kickboxing
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roque Martinez
Daron Cruickshank vs. Diego Brandao
Mikuru Asakura vs. Karshyga Dautbek
Kai Asakura vs. Topnoi Tiger Muay Thai
Ayaka Hamasaki vs. Mina Kurobe
Mitsuhisa Sunabe vs. Haruo Ochi
Yusaku Nakamura vs. Manel Kape
Andy Nguyen vs. Miyuu Yamamoto
Taiga vs. Kento Haraguchi — kickboxing
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