Kody Steele

Kody Steele is a 31-year-old lightweight rising rapidly through the UFC ranks on the back of elite grappling credentials and an aggressive finishing style. A black-belt jiu-jitsu competitor and former Combat Jiu-Jitsu world champion, Steele spent years as a jiu-jitsu instructor before moving to Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas to pursue full-time MMA just months before his UFC debut. His entry to the octagon in February 2025 against Rong Zhu was a learning curve: he dropped a hard-fought unanimous decision in a three-rounder that earned Fight of the Night honors, signaling that he belonged at the elite level even in defeat.

Since that loss, Steele has returned to his finishing ways with ruthless efficiency. He knocked out Chasen Blair in the second round at the Contender Series, then submitted Dom Mar Fan via heel hook at 3:56 of the first round at UFC Perth in May 2026. Those back-to-back finishes underscore his dual threat: he lands striking almost exclusively at distance (97% of his significant strikes are standing), and his perfect UFC takedown defense means opponents cannot ride out his submissions. With six finishes across his eight professional wins, Steele is establishing himself as one of the more exciting finishers in the lightweight division.

His style is relentless offense anchored in legitimate black-belt jiu-jitsu technique and heavy hands. He hunts rear-naked chokes and heel hooks from dominant positions, and he is not afraid to trade on the feet. Steele's loss to Rong Zhu proved he will engage in wars rather than take the safe route, and his subsequent wins have been highlight-reel quality. At 8-1 with a real submission arsenal and the finishing power to end fights on the feet, Steele is a rising prospect with both the technical depth and the appetite for violence that casual fans find irresistible.