Cariaso-Smolka, Horiguchi-Montague Flyweight Bouts Booked for UFC Fight Night in Cincinnati

Chris Cariaso will square off with Louis Smolka in Cincinnati. | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

UFC officials announced the bookings late Thursday night. No headliner has been revealed for the event, which takes place at U.S. Bank Arena and will additionally feature a featherweight clash pitting Manny Gamburyan against Nik Lentz.

A 21-fight pro, Cariaso has won back-to-back contests heading into his clash with Smolka, most recently outpointing Danny Martinez three weeks ago at UFC 169. In “Da Last Samurai,” Cariaso faces an unbeaten former Pacific Xtreme Combat champion who made a successful Octagon debut on Jan. 15, when he outpointed fellow prospect Alptekin Ozkilic at UFC Fight Night 35.

Horiguchi, 23, made his Octagon debut as Shooto’s reigning 123-pound titleholder, knocking out Dustin Pague in their bantamweight showdown this past October at UFC 166. Meanwhile, Montague hopes to rebound from a loss suffered at the same show, as the former Tachi Palace Fights flyweight king was knocked out by John Dodson at the Oct. 19 event.