RIZIN 49 video: Kyoji Horiguchi survives knockdown, defends title vs. Nkazimulo Zulu

Kyoji Horiguchi experienced multiple scares from Nkazimulo Zulu at RIZIN 49: Decade, but he ultimately found his path to victory and defended the flyweight title.

After largely dominating in the opening round of the matchup on Tuesday in Saitama, Japan, Zulu (16-7-1) achieved his biggest moment when he rocked the former UFC title challenger with a big punch late in the round. Horiguchi (34-5) survived and scored a knockdown of his own moment later before threatening with a fight-ending choke.

THEY EXCHANGE KNOCKDOWNS AT THE END OF ROUND 1!

[ #RIZIN_DECADE | LIVE on https://t.co/LChPUvqSqh ] pic.twitter.com/hw573VpCML

— RIZIN.tv (@RIZINTV_) December 31, 2024

The action then spilled over into the second frame, where Horiguchi wasted no time putting Zulu on his back and grinding minutes off the clock before the referee stood them up and he was rocked again. Horiguchi battled through danger and got the fight to the next round, though.

ZULU ROCKS HORIGUCHI IN ROUND 2!

[ #RIZIN_DECADE | LIVE on https://t.co/LChPUvqSqh ] pic.twitter.com/HK06zyHKFH

— RIZIN.tv (@RIZINTV_) December 31, 2024

Horiguchi took the fight back to his safe zone in the third frame, putting Zulu on his back and battering him with a steady diet of ground-and-pound from half guard. The referee took a close look at Zulu multiple times, but he limited the amount of damage absorbed and made it to the final bell.

And STILL

The Champ takes home a unanimous decision.

[ #RIZIN_DECADE | LIVE on https://t.co/LChPUvqSqh ] pic.twitter.com/bsdG58mMrG

— RIZIN.tv (@RIZINTV_) December 31, 2024

“Thank you to the fans who give me my power,” Horiguchi said in his post-fight interview. “I wanted to finish the fight and show my level. I’m going to work harder and come back stronger in 2025.”

Complete MMA results from RIZIN 49 included:

• Chihiro Suzuki vs. Kleber Koike
• Kyoji Horiguchi def. Nkazimulo Zulu via unanimous decision – to defend flyweight title
• Roberto Satoshi def. Vugar Karamov via submission (triangle choke) — Round 1, 4:45
• Seika Izawa def. Lucia Apdelgarim via submission (triangle armbar) — Round 1, 2:21
• Yuki Motoya def. Kyoma Akimoto via unanimous decision
• Rajabali Shaidullaev def. Yuta Kubo via TKO — Round 2, 2:30
• Karshyga Dautbek def. Ren Sugiyama via unanimous decision
• Ryuya Fukuda def. Ryusei Ashizawa via knockout — Round 1, 0:54
• Mikio Ueda def. Tae In Kim via knockout — Round 2, 2:31
• Jose Torres def. Makoto Takahashi via split decision
• Taisei Sakuraba def. Yusuke Yachi via TKO — Round 1, 0:26
• Koji Takeda def. Suguru Nii via technical decision — Round 3, 4:09
• King Edokpolo def. Satoshi Kamiyama via knockout — Round 1, 3:22
• Genji Umeno def. Taiga Kawabe via unanimous decision
• Daichi Tomizawa vs. Kota Miura via knockout — Round 1, 1:53
• Hyuma Yasui def. Hiroaki Suzuki via split decision
• Hiroto Gomyo def. Koki Akada via split decision