Kyoji Horiguchi – 15-2, 9 KOs, 2 SUBs – will fight for the first time since falling well short in his title bid against flyweight kingpin Demetrious Johnson, and he’ll have the added benefit of fighting at home.
The Japanese native will meet veteran Chico Camus -14-6, 4 KOs, 3 SUBs – in the UFC’s return to the land of the rising sun, in hopes of starting another run at the title.
CURRENT ODDS
Check our UFC Fight Night 75 odds for the latest money lines on each fighter, and expect Horiguchi to be a sizeable favorite going into the bout. The total in this three-round bout will likely be set at 2.5 rounds at close to a pick’em. Prop bets are usually posted a night or two before the fight, so make sure to check back in for the latest. After the bout starts, live betting is also available.
ON THE REBOUND
Prior to his loss to Demetrious Johnson at UFC 186 this past April, Horiguchi was on a nine-fight winning streak that included four straight UFC victories. However, none of those octagon wins came against a top-15 flyweight, which says a lot in a paper thin division like flyweight.
Although Horiguchi was probably put into a title fight much too soon, he’s still just 24 and has time to get better. And aside from John Dodson, he arguably packs the most explosive punch at 125 pounds in the world.
Camus is 1-2 with one no contest in his past four. The 30-year old is ranked No. 14 by the UFC, but is coming off a loss to undefeated Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo. Prior to that, he beat the well-regarded Brad Pickett in a tough split-decision win.
FIGHT ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Horiguchi is especially gifted in terms of speed and power, which sets his ceiling higher than most other flyweights. He loves to operate at long range, circling and flashing powerful single shots. What makes him fun to watch is his unpredictability: Horiguchi will throw anything, any time from any range. That includes things like spinning kicks, hooks and flying knees.
Camus is a well-rounded fighter with good stick-and-move standup, sold wrestling and veteran’s top game. However, in terms of growth he seems to have reached a plateau, as he has not improved in his most recent fights. At 30 years old, he still has time to get better, but the window is closing fast.
If Camus had better wrestling, he’d have a clear path to beat Horiguchi, whose takedown defense is far from elite. But the American lacks the acumen to drag this fight to the ground and keep it there. If this fight plays out on the feet, Horiguchi’s speed, power and creativity will be far too much for Camus to handle. The pick is the Japanese youngster to win by second-round TKO.
HOW TO BET
Sign in to get the latest Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Chico Camus odds. BookMaker Sportsbook offers daily updates to money lines, over/under, prop bets and more, so make sure to lock in your bets should you find a favorable wager. The fight takes place at UFC Fight Night 75, on Saturday, September 26, 2015 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The main card will air on FOX Sports 1 starting 10 p.m. ET.
Don’t forget to check in during fight night to get live odds. During each fight, BookMaker Sportsbook updates their odds in real-time, so you can keep betting as each fight unfolds on live television. It’s a great way to hedge your bets should you fall behind. With our mobile platform, it’s never been easier to bet on UFC events.
