Dan Hardy column: UFC 186 could see a shock when Kyoji Horiguchi fights Demetrious Johnson
This week, British UFC welterweight and UFC commentator, Dan Hardy, looks ahead to this weekend’s Flyweight title fight and eyes up a potential upset from the underdog
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Your support makes all the difference.Montreal is preparing for the arrival of UFC 186 this weekend at the Bell Centre. The card is heavy with talent, from the first prelim featuring Ultimate Fighter 20 contestants, Randa Markos and Aisling Daly, all the way up to the main event title fight. Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson will this time defend his belt against Japan’s pocket rocket, Kyoji Horiguchi. Having beaten every other contender at least once, number seven ranked Horiguchi will step in with an impressive record of 15-1, winning all four of his UFC bouts since signing in 2013.
He is young, explosive and confident. He may also be able to match the champion for speed, which has been the shortfall of many challengers so far. Upon graduating high school he signed up with the Krazy Bee fight team to train under his hero, Kid Yamamoto. Back in 2011 when ‘Mighty Mouse’ made his UFC debut, he faced Yamamoto and won a dominant decision. A twenty-year-old Horiguchi was in the corner of his hero, and now Yamamoto is his coach and training partner.
Four years have passed since that fight and Johnson has gone from strength to strength, having left the Octagon with the belt around his waist six times. Horiguchi, meanwhile, burst onto the scene with a thrilling stoppage over Dustin Pague, demonstrating surprising speed and power throughout the first round of his UFC debut. A lifetime martial artist, Horiguchi began his Karate training at the age of five after forceful persuasion from his father. He then went on to excel in anything combative that he tried his hand at.
He now steps into the Octagon with the opportunity to not only get some payback for his mentor, Yamamoto, but to become the UFC world champion in the process. To beat ‘Mighty Mouse’ after his impressive tenure as flyweight king, would be shocking to say the least. But with his speed, which rivals the champ, and his explosive power and strength, not to mention the training he has received from a man who spent 15 minutes fighting Johnson, he has a lot in his corner. I love to support the underdog, and in this fight I can’t help but think he might cause an upset.
I’m going to skip over the co-main event as I think the fight before it is far more interesting! Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping will have an opportunity to demonstrate his takedown defence again as he faces gritty Division 1 All-American wrestler, CB ‘The Doberman’ Dollaway. It’s another tough fight for the Brit, having just faced an on-form Luke Rockhold in Australia back in November, and Dollaway has looked impressive of late. A recent setback against Lyoto Machida aside, the Doberman’s striking game is improving and the tenacity of his fighting style makes him dangerous for Bisping.
If ‘The Count’ can stick and move, using his takedown defence to keep the fight standing, he can use his ever impeccable conditioning to wear Dollaway down and discourage him. There is a lot at stake as both of these fighters are battling for that top ten spot, Bisping ranked at #10 and Dollaway a place below. The main card starts at 3am UK time, so the hardcore among you can stay up and watch. Be sure to tweet at me and check in if you do (@danhardymma), or you can watch it on Sunday morning while you eat your toast. Either way, don’t miss it!
Catch all the action from UFC 186 on BT Sport 1 from 1am on Sunday morning.
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