Steven Nguyen

Overview

Three Contender Series appearances, and it took until the third to get through the door. Steven "The Ninja" Nguyen is a switch-stance featherweight from Wichita, Kansas, with a 10-2-0 professional record across all promotions and a 1-1 record in the UFC.

He debuted in March 2024, lost a decision, then came back in July 2025 with a second-round knockout. He carries a one-fight win streak into whatever comes next.

Small sample. Clear shape.

UFC Career

Nguyen's road ran through Dana White's Contender Series. He lost by KO/TKO to Aalon Cruz in round 3 in 2019, beat Theo Rlayang by unanimous decision in 2021, and stopped AJ Cunningham in round 2 in September 2023. None of those count toward his UFC record, since they weren't UFC events.

His UFC debut came at UFC Fight Night: Ribas vs. Namajunas in March 2024, a unanimous decision loss to Jarno Errens. He then took more than a year away from the cage before returning at UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs de Ridder, where he beat Mohammad Yahya by KO/TKO in round 2.

One win, one loss. The win was a finish.

Fighting Style

The numbers describe a striker, and not a quiet one. He lands far more strikes per minute than the UFC average and defends them better than most. The cost is that he also absorbs far more than the average fighter, so his fights tend to be exchanges rather than clean one-sided work.

The grappling side barely shows up. He rarely shoots for takedowns and almost never hunts submissions, but he is very hard to take down, which keeps the fight where he wants it. His one UFC win came by knockout, and his one UFC loss went the distance.

Notable Wins

• Mohammad Yahya — KO/TKO, round 2, UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs de Ridder (2025)

Quick Facts

• Division: Featherweight
• UFC record: 1-1 (one KO/TKO win, one decision loss)
• Professional record (all promotions): 10-2-0
• UFC debut: March 2024
• Stance: Switch
• Height / Reach: 5'11" / 73"
• Born: Wichita, KS, United States