Two of the world’s best bantamweights are facing off again on New Year’s Eve.
RIZIN announced Friday that Kai Asakura (16-2) will defend his 135-pound title in a rematch against Kyoji Horiguchi (28-3) at RIZIN 26 on Dec. 31 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
The two first fought in a non-title bout at RIZIN 18 in August of last year. Asakura shocked the then-champion, finishing him with strikes in just 67 seconds. A rematch was expected to take place the following December, but Horiguchi was forced to the sidelines with a knee injury that also led to him relinquishing the Bellator bantamweight championship that he had won from Darrion Caldwell.