Kyoji Horiguchi could not have envisioned a more beneficial outcome. He got in, and he got out.
The former Ultimate Fighting Championship title contender disposed of promising Brazilian export Gabriel Leite de Oliveira with punches in the first round of their 2017 Rizin Fighting Federation bantamweight grand prix quarterfinal on Friday at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Oliveira (10-1) succumbed to blows 4:30 into Round 1.
Horiguchi (21-2) overwhelmed his counterpart with speed and technique. The American Top Team standout baffled Oliveira with unorthodox movement, darting in and out with lightning-quick punches.