Published 9 days ago
Nagasaki: Yoshinori Horie dominates Sho Patrick Usami in two rounds and establishes himself as a serious title contender
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Yoshinori Horie made history at Rizin 16 by crushing Sho Patrick Usami via KO in the second round, despite a last-minute weight class change. This spectacular performance reignites his ambitions in the welterweight division and confirms his status as a future champion.
To remember:
- Horie crushes Usami in two rounds at Rizin 16 with a devastating elbow.
- The fight was moved to 160 pounds after Usami failed the weigh-in.
- This victory marks Horie’s return to form after his loss in the final at Rizin 51.
The Rizin Landmark 16, held this Saturday in Nagasaki, delivered a show that lived up to expectations. The main event between Yoshinori Horie and Sho Patrick Usami kept all its promises, ending in a spectacular fashion for the Japanese fighter.
Originally scheduled as a lightweight bout, the fight was moved to 160 pounds after Usami failed the weigh-in. A last-minute change that didn’t stop Horie from dominating the clash. From the opening seconds, the Japanese fighter set the pace, using precise strikes to counter his opponent’s attacks.
The first round, evenly matched, hinted at a tight battle. But it was in the second round that Horie struck hard. A sharp elbow to the bridge of Usami’s nose opened the floodgates, forcing the referee to stop the fight at 3 minutes and 37 seconds. A technical KO that sealed the Japanese fighter’s dominance.
This victory marks a turning point in Horie’s career, reigniting his ambitions after his loss in the title final at Rizin 51. With two consecutive wins in 2026, including one against Patricky Freire in April, he now asserts himself as a serious contender in the welterweight division. Usami, despite early resistance, couldn’t withstand his opponent’s offensive pressure, casting doubt on his future in the weight class.
With this performance, Yoshinori Horie proves he’s back among the elite of Japanese MMA. His KO over Usami at Rizin 16 sends a clear message: he intends to be among the future champions of the sport. The question now is who his next opponent will be as he climbs the ranks.