Horiguchi vs Shinryu

Who won Horiguchi vs Shinryu?

Kyoji Horiguchi beat Makoto Takahashi by submission in the 2nd round during the main event of RIZIN 45, on Sunday 31st December 2023 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 3 rounds in the Flyweight division, which meant the weight limit was 125 pounds (8.9 stone or 56.7 KG).

This contest was for the Rizin Flyweight championship.

Horiguchi vs Shinryu stats

Kyoji Horiguchi stepped into the octagon with a record of 31 wins, 5 losses and 0 draws, 15 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 4 by submission.

Makoto Takahashi made his way to the cage with a record of 16 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw and 4 by submission.

Kyoji Horiguchi's Rizin record stood at 12-1-0, while Makoto Takahashi's came in at 3-0-0.

The stats suggested Horiguchi had a massive power advantage over Takahashi, boasting a 48% knock out percentage over Takahashi's 0%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Takahashi had an advantage over Horiguchi, with a 25% submission rate over Horiguchi's 13%.

Kyoji Horiguchi was the older man by 10 years, at 33 years old.

Horiguchi had a height advantage of 1 inch over Takahashi.

Horiguchi was the more experienced professional fighter, having had 18 more fights, and made his debut in 2010, 5 years and 11 months earlier than Takahashi, whose first professional fight was in 2016. He had fought 39 more professional rounds, 87 to Takahashi's 48.

Horiguchi vs Shinryu form

Kyoji Horiguchi had beaten 2 of his last 5 opponents.

In his last fight before this contest, his fight against Makoto Takahashi at Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN 2 on 31st July 2023 ended in a no contest.

Previous to that, he had won against Hiromasa Ougikubo at Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN on 31st December 2022 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama.

Going into that contest, he had beaten Yuto Hokamura at RIZIN 38 on 25th September 2022 by submission in the 2nd round at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama.

Before that, he had lost to Patchy Mix at Bellator 279 on 23rd April 2022 by unanimous decision in their 5 round contest at Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Honolulu, United States.

He had been beaten by Sergio Pettis at Bellator MMA on 3rd December 2021 by knockout in the 4th round in their Bellator Bantamweight championship fight at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville.

Makoto Takahashi had beaten 3 of his last 5 opponents.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had been defeated by Kyoji Horiguchi at RIZIN 45 on 31st December 2023 by submission in the 2nd round in their Rizin Flyweight championship fight at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan.

Previous to that, he had been defeated by Kyoji Horiguchi at Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN 2 on 31st July 2023 by submission in the 1st round in their Bellator Flyweight championship fight at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama.

Going into that contest, he had defeated Daichi Kitakata at RIZIN 41 on 1st April 2023 by submission in the 2nd round at Maruzen Intec Arena Osaka, Osaka.

Before that, he was victorious against Hideo Tokoro at RIZIN 37 on 31st July 2022 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama.

He had won against Seiichiro Ito at RIZIN 23 on 10th August 2020 by submission in the 2nd round at Pia Arena MM, Yokohama.

Activity check

In terms of activity leading into the fight, Kyoji Horiguchi had been fighting more than Makoto Takahashi.

Going to this contest, Kyoji Horiguchi had last fought 9 months and 3 days ago, while Makoto Takahashi's last outing had been 4 months and 3 days ago.

Horiguchi's last 5 fights had come over a period of 2 years, 5 months and 1 day, meaning he had been fighting on average every 5 months and 25 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 15 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 3 rounds on average.

Takahashi's last 5 fights had come over a period of 3 years, 8 months and 24 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 8 months and 29 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 10 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2 rounds on average.

What were the odds on Horiguchi vs Shinryu?

Kyoji Horiguchi was a 2/7 (-340) favourite going into the contest, while Makoto Takahashi made his way into the ring at 5/2 (+250) with oddsmakers.