UFC Fight Night 52 adds Kyoji Horiguchi, Takanori Gomi, Yoshihiro Akiyama, others

September’s return to Japan, UFC Fight Night 52, will feature some local talent, officials today announced.

During a press conference in Tokoyo, some familiar names were announced the card (via MMAFighting.com), which takes place Sept. 20 at Saitama Arena in Saitama, Japan.

The event, which features a previously announced headliner between heavyweights Roy Nelson and Mark Hunt, is expected to stream on UFC Fight Pass.

In flyweight action, Kyoji Horiguchi (13-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), a Japanese who’s picked up UFC wins over Dustin Pague and Darrell Montague to move his overall winning streak to seven fights, meets Chris Cariaso (17-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC), who looks to cement his contender status with a fourth straight UFC win.

Cariaso is ranked No. 11 and Horiguchi is an honorable mention in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA flyweight rankings.

Also on the card is middleweight Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-5 MMA, 1-4 UFC), who looks to snap a four-fight losing streak when he fights for the first time since early 2012.

Other additions lightweight Takanori Gomi (35-9 MMA, 4-4 UFC), who’s won three of his past four while earning a pair of “Fight of the Night” awards, and bantamweight Norifumi Yamamoto (18-6 MMA, 0-3 UFC), who’s lost all three of his UFC fights to date and fights for the first time since early 2012.

Opponents for the three Japanese fighters are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The latest UFC Fight Night 52 card includes:

• Mark Hunt vs. Roy Nelson
• Rin Nakai vs. Miesha Tate
• Chris Cariaso vs. Kyoji Horiguchi
• Takanori Gomi vs. opponent TBA
• Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. opponent TBA
• Norifumi Yamamoto vs. opponent TBA

For more on UFC Fight Night 52, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Kyoji Horiguchi)