Kyoji Horiguchi has returned both his Rizin and Bellator belts according to Nobuyuki Sakakibara. It leaves both promotions without a bantamweight champion.

The Rizin CEO broke the news on Twitter:

Kai Asakura is expected to challenge for the bantamweight title at Rizin 20. He is coming off a stoppage win over Horiguchi but is currently without an opponent for December 31st.

Horiguchi will be out of action for at least 10 months after tearing the ACL and damaging the meniscus in his right knee. He had won 13 straight fights since leaving the UFC until the loss to Asakura at Rizin 18.

He won the Bellator 135lbs title after beating Darrion Caldwell for the second time. The American promotion now finds itself in need of a new bantamweight champion.

Bellator president Scott Coker guaranteed that Horiguchi would get to challenge for the belt once he was ready: