Steven Nguyen’s Dominant Arrival Breaks UFC Record
By James Moreau | 06 Aug, 2025

After a stunning record-setting performance and two hefty bonuses, Steven Nguyen is quickly becoming UFC’s next must-watch fighter.

Steven Nguyen is an MMA fighter known for his aggressive striking style that incorporates many karate kicks and spinning techniques, earning him the nickname “The Ninja.”

In July Nguyen secured his first UFC victory with a TKO over Mohammad Yahya after a doctor stopped the fight at the end of the second round.  Throughout the 10-minute bout Nguyen landed an impressive 108 strikes with 92 categorized as significant, resulting in a gruesome eye injury for Yahya.  The Vietnamese American set a UFC record for knockdowns in a single fight by flooring his opponent six times, including five in the first round. The dominant showing earned him a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus.

He also earned a $50,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus in his March 2024 UFC debut against Jarno Errens, despite losing by unanimous decision.

Nguyen secured a UFC contract following a TKO victory over AJ Cunningham in September 2023 on Dana White’s Contender Series – his third appearance on the promotional reality show. He has a professional record of 10 wins and 2 losses.

At 5’11” Nguyen fights in the featherweight division, requiring him to cut 25-30 pounds over a couple months to make weight at 145 pounds.

The 32-year-old began his martial arts journey at an early age, training in Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Nguyen forged his parents’ signatures to participate in his first fight at 15 in which he beat a 21-year-old. The Wichita, Kansas native grew up in what he describes as a “traditional Asian family” with relatives in respected professions, including a sister who is a doctor. Nguyen wrestled all four years at Heights High School winning a state title in 2011. Today he fights out of Dallas, Texas training with Fortis MMA.