Kody Steele

Overview

Two UFC wins, two first-round finishes, and the only loss is the one that went the distance.

Kody Steele is a lightweight out of Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, Port Angeles, Washington by birth. He holds a 2-1 record in the UFC and 9-1 across all promotions. His debut came at UFC 312 in February 2025, and he carries a two-fight win streak into his next fight.

Small sample, but the pattern is clear: when his fights end early, they end in his favor.

UFC Career

Steele's path to the UFC ran through Dana White's Contender Series 8.9, where he beat Chasen Blair by KO/TKO in round 2 at 4:07. That fight sits outside his UFC record.

The debut was a step backward. At UFC 312 he lost a unanimous decision to Rongzhu, going all three rounds. It remains the only time he has heard the final bell in the UFC.

He answered at UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs Prates in May 2026, submitting Dom Mar Fan in round 1 at 3:56. Five months later, at UFC 333, he stopped Noah Gugnon by KO/TKO in round 1 at 3:54.

Two finishes, both inside four minutes.

Fighting Style

Steele is a busy striker who throws a lot and lands more than most. He also takes more than most in return, and he misses often, so his output comes from volume rather than clean shot selection. His striking defense is about average.

His standout trait is takedown defense, which is far stronger than most fighters in the UFC. Opponents have a hard time putting him on his back. He goes after takedowns at a typical rate himself, and he hunts for submissions less often than most.

That makes his finishing record a little surprising. Both of his UFC wins ended in round 1, one by knockout and one by submission, even though his submission attempts are below average.

Notable Wins

• Dom Mar Fan — submission, round 1 (3:56), UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs Prates (2026)
• Noah Gugnon — KO/TKO, round 1 (3:54), UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev (2026)

Quick Facts

• Division: Lightweight
• UFC record: 2-1
• Professional record (all promotions): 9-1-0
• UFC debut: 2025
• Height: 5'9"
• Reach: 71"
• Team: Syndicate MMA, Las Vegas, NV
• Born: Port Angeles, WA, United States