Brisbane based Ben ’10’ Nguyen has signed on for Japanese promotion Rizin Fighting Federation and will make his debut in April when he takes on Japanese stand-out Kyoji Horiguchi in a under 60kg contest.
The two will clash on the Rizin FF 15 card scheduled for Yokohama Arena in Japan on April 21.
With the UFC being uncommitted to a flyweight division, Nguyen was released from the promotion after his second consecutive loss back in December. This is despite still being ranked within the top 15 of the division. With his Vietnamese roots and his entertaining style, it’s no surprise that the 30-year-old has been picked up by an Asian promotion.
It will be a tough first up outing for Nguyen with his opponent Kyoji Horiguchi being the current Rizin Bantamweight (61kg) title holder after the 28-year-old defeated Darrion Caldwell on the New Years card in December. Nguyen was a spectator at the event, having travelled over to support training partner Damien Brown.
Horiguchi brings an impressive 26-2 MMA resume having lost just once in his last 21 bouts across Shooto, UFC and Rizin FF. That loss came in a UFC flyweight title fight against Demetrious Johnson back in 2015. The American Top Team athlete recovered to win his next three, before deciding to part ways with the UFC and signing for Rizin FF. His racked up eight wins in the promotion which along with the title, also included taking out the Rizin 2017 Bantamweight Grand Prix.
Also announced on the card is a Rizin light-heavyweight championship bout between Muhammad ‘King Mo’ Lawal and Jiri Prochazka. The two clashed back in 2015 where Lawal won the fight with punches in the first round.
Fight Card:
- Muhammad Lawal vs. Jiri Prochazka – Rizin light-heavyweight championship
- Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Ben Nguyen
- Mikuru Asakura vs. Luiz Gustavo
- Kai Asakura vs. Ulka Sasaki
