// Roster Index›Lightweight›Dossier · Steve Kozola
UFC FIGHTER PROFILE_
UFC · UNKNOWNLIGHTWEIGHT

Steve
Kozola

NICKNAME"Thunderbeast"·UNITED STATES
PROFESSIONAL RECORD
9-4-0
CURRENT FORM
2L STREAK
NEXT FIGHT
NO BOUT ANNOUNCED
Steve Kozola
FIGHTER -
UNI🇺🇸
PROFILE PHOTO
PROFILE
PROFILE DATA! COLD
HEIGHT
5'11"
AGE
36
WEIGHT
Lightweight
PROFESSIONAL RECORD_
13 BOUTS
WIN
9
LOSS
4
DRAW
0
WIN RATE
69%
9/13 bouts
FINISH RATE
100%
of professional wins
LAST 5 FIGHTS2L STREAK · 1-4
LLWLL
STYLE SUMMARY_
DATA: COLD
FIGHTING STYLE
WELL ROUNDED

Well rounded fighter with elite knockout power — 89% of wins are by ko/tko.

KEY STRENGTHS

Closes distance and trades — most wins come from heavy hands inside the first two rounds.

KEY RISKS

Volume strikers have outpointed across full fights — output drops after R2.

// PERFORMANCE_METRICS · 02_

STRIKE / GRAPPLE
VITALS

Observed profile rates compared with stored weight-class medians where coverage exists. Any fallback uses a labeled UFC reference average; no fallback is presented as a division median.

// SLPM▲ ABOVE
3.90
Strikes Landed/Min
Reference value 2.70
// STR. ACC▼ BELOW
39%
Striking Accuracy
Reference value 45%
// SAPM▼ BELOW
4.36
Strikes Absorbed/Min
Reference value 2.70
// STR. DEF▼ BELOW
50%
Striking Defense
Reference value 53%
// TD AVG▲ ABOVE
2.34
Takedowns/15 min
Reference value 1.50
// TD ACC▲ ABOVE
100%
Takedown Accuracy
Reference value 40%
// TD DEF▲ ABOVE
100%
Takedown Defense
Reference value 59%
// SUB AVG▼ BELOW
0.00
Submissions/15 min
Reference value 0.50
// QUALITY_OF_COMPETITION · 02B_

WHO THEY
ACTUALLY FOUGHT

A record says how often a fighter won, not against whom. These ratings weigh every result by the opponent's strength at the time, then compare this fighter with the 111 rated fighters on the UFC lightweight roster (anyone with a UFC bout in the last two years or one booked).

// RATING
#93
against the 111 rated on the UFC lightweight roster · Elo 1496
// STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
13th
percentile · average opponent rated 1513 at fight time (recent fights count most)
// RESULTS VS EXPECTATION
19th
percentile · fell short of what opponents' ratings predicted (-0.18 per fight)

8 rated fights · opponents rated in 62% of recorded fights · last rated fight AUG 30, 2019

// CAREER_BREAKDOWN · 03_

WIN CONDITION MAP

Where the wins come from, and where the losses came from. Method splits by knockout, submission, and decision.

// WINS (9)
n = 9
KO/TKO · 8
SUB · 1
8
KO/TKO
89%
1
SUB
11%
0
DEC
0%
// LOSSES (4)
n = 4
KO/TKO · 1
SUB · 1
DEC · 2
1
KO/TKO
25%
1
SUB
25%
2
DEC
50%
// PATH_TO_VICTORY_
100% FINISH
KO/TKOEARLY ROUNDS · 8 fights
89%
SUBANY ROUND · 1 fights
11%
Top win condition: ko/tko · early rounds.
// DNA_PROFILE · 04_

ATTRIBUTE FINGERPRINT

Evidence-backed 0-100 scores built only from observed profile stats and disclosed bout-history proxies. This is a fixed Blueprint scoring model, not a division percentile; missing axes remain unknown.

// DNA_PROFILE_
3 OBSERVED7 DERIVED0 UNKNOWN
// BENCHMARK
FIXED SCORE SCALE
// LINKED SAMPLE
13 BOUTS
// PROFILE UPDATED
JUL 20, 2026
// RECORDED SOURCE
ufcstats
Fighter attribute fingerprint10 of 10 attributes have evidence-backed scores on the Blueprint fixed scale. Unknown axes are not plotted and no score represents a division percentile.KO POWER100TD DEFENSE100GRAPPLING43CHIN79STRIKING42CARDIO49AGGRESSION47SUB THREAT20STR DEFENSE44RECOVERY33
// BANDS
90+ELITE
70-89STRONG
45-69AVERAGE
30-44BELOW
<30LOW
N/AUNKNOWN
Highest scored axis: KO Power. Lowest scored axis: Sub Threat.
// EVIDENCE REGISTER
10 SCORED · 0 OPEN
KO Power100
DERIVED PROXY

KO wins divided by total career wins

N=9 wins
TD Defense100
OBSERVED INPUT

Observed takedown defense rate (100%)

Grappling43
DERIVED PROXY

Composite of observed takedown volume, accuracy, and submission rate

Chin79
DERIVED PROXY

KO-loss durability proxy from career record

N=13 bouts
Striking42
DERIVED PROXY

Composite of observed striking volume and accuracy

Cardio49
DERIVED PROXY

Long-fight exposure proxy from bout duration and decision-win share

Aggression47
DERIVED PROXY

Activity proxy from observed strike and takedown volume

Sub Threat20
OBSERVED INPUT

Observed submission rate (0 per 15 min)

Str Defense44
OBSERVED INPUT

Observed striking defense rate (50%)

Recovery33
DERIVED PROXY

Share of recorded losses followed by a win in the next recorded bout.

N=4 losses
Fighter attribute fingerprint accessible data summary
AttributeScoreProvenanceEvidenceSample
KO Power100 out of 100DERIVED PROXYKO wins divided by total career wins9 wins
TD Defense100 out of 100OBSERVED INPUTObserved takedown defense rate (100%)Not recorded
Grappling43 out of 100DERIVED PROXYComposite of observed takedown volume, accuracy, and submission rateNot recorded
Chin79 out of 100DERIVED PROXYKO-loss durability proxy from career record13 bouts
Striking42 out of 100DERIVED PROXYComposite of observed striking volume and accuracyNot recorded
Cardio49 out of 100DERIVED PROXYLong-fight exposure proxy from bout duration and decision-win shareNot recorded
Aggression47 out of 100DERIVED PROXYActivity proxy from observed strike and takedown volumeNot recorded
Sub Threat20 out of 100OBSERVED INPUTObserved submission rate (0 per 15 min)Not recorded
Str Defense44 out of 100OBSERVED INPUTObserved striking defense rate (50%)Not recorded
Recovery33 out of 100DERIVED PROXYShare of recorded losses followed by a win in the next recorded bout.4 losses
// CAREER_MOMENTUM · 05_

THE ARC SO FAR

Rolling momentum score (0-100) recomputed after every bout. Weighted blend of result, opponent context, and method-of-finish, designed to show the shape, not the destination.

// MOMENTUM_TIMELINE_
SCOREWINLOSS
0255075100JUL 2013WJUL 2013WMAR 2014WMAY 2014WOCT 2014WJAN 2015WMAY 2015WAPR 2016WMAR 2017LOCT 2017LJAN 2018WJUL 2018LJUN 2019LAUG 2019// SCORE

  1. Start, JUL 2013, momentum score 45.
  2. Start, JUL 2013, momentum score 55, SUB R2.
  3. Start, MAR 2014, momentum score 64, KO/TKO R2.
  4. Start, MAY 2014, momentum score 74, KO/TKO R1.
  5. Start, OCT 2014, momentum score 85, KO/TKO R1.
  6. Start, JAN 2015, momentum score 94, KO/TKO R2.
  7. Start, MAY 2015, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  8. Start, APR 2016, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  9. Start, MAR 2017, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  10. Start, OCT 2017, momentum score 93, DEC R3.
  11. Start, JAN 2018, momentum score 83, KO/TKO R1.
  12. Start, JUL 2018, momentum score 94, KO/TKO R1.
  13. Start, JUN 2019, momentum score 87, SUB R1.
  14. Start, AUG 2019, momentum score 80, DEC R3.

Peaked at 100 (W vs Butler), bottomed at 45 (Debut). Current reading: 80.

// KILL_SHOT_MATRIX · 06_

WHEN THE FINISHES COME

Cross-tab of fight outcome by method and round. Reads top-down for method, left-right for round. Cyan intensity scales with frequency.

// METHOD × ROUND_
13/13 fights mapped
METHOD ↓ / ROUND →R1R2R3R4R5FREQ
KO/TKO
7
54%
2
15%
-
-
-
9
total
SUB
1
8%
1
8%
-
-
-
2
total
DEC
-
-
2
15%
-
-
2
total
// PRIMARY KILL ZONE
R1-R2 KO/TKO · 9 of 13 mapped
// LATE-FIGHT GAP
No R5 finishes either way
// DECISION RATE
15%, fights rarely go the distance
// FIGHT_HISTORY · 08_

BOUT LOG
13 FIGHTS

Detailed bout records for the indexed tenure. Sorted most recent first.

L
VS Salvador BecerraAug 30, 2019
DecisionR3 · 5:00
LFA 74 - Vanderaa vs. Ferreira
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Decision (Unanimous)
L
VS Arthur EstrazulasJun 7, 2019
SubmissionR1 · 2:32
LFA 69 - Perez vs. Moreno
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
W
VS Ryan WalkerJul 13, 2018
KO/TKOR1 · 1:45
Bellator 202 - Budd vs. Nogueira
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Punches)
L
VS Jake SmithJan 26, 2018
KO/TKOR1 · 0:57
Bellator 193 - Larkin vs. Gonzalez
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
KO (Punches)
L
VS Carrington BanksOct 6, 2017
DecisionR3 · 5:00
Bellator 184 - Dantas vs. Caldwell
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Decision (Unanimous)
W
VS Jake RobertsMar 31, 2017
KO/TKOR1 · 0:28
Bellator 175 - Rampage vs. King Mo 2
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Punches)
W
VS Matt ChurchApr 2, 2016
KO/TKOR1 · 1:57
WSOF 30 - Branch vs. Starks
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Punches)
W
VS Ian ButlerMay 15, 2015
KO/TKOR1 · 2:22
Bellator 137 - Halsey vs. Grove
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
KO (Punches)
W
VS Jonathan RiveraJan 16, 2015
KO/TKOR2 · 1:25
Bellator MMA - Bellator 132
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
KO (Punches)
W
VS Danny Morales Jr.Oct 11, 2014
KO/TKOR1 · 1:56
APFC 17 - American Predator Fighting Championships 17
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
KO
W
VS Eddy GonzalezMay 31, 2014
KO/TKOR1 · 0:50
Gladiator Challenge - Backlash
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Punches)
W
VS Tommy GavinMar 28, 2014
KO/TKOR2 · 0:44
BAMMA USA - Badbeat 12
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Punches)
// FAQ · 09_

CITATION-READY ANSWERS

Quick answers based on the public fighter profile and fight history shown on this page.

Lightweight. Professional record 9-4. Unranked at the time of indexing.

Research Steve Kozola

Compare this fighter head to head, check the next UFC card, read current matchup analysis, or verify settled Blueprint MMA forecasts.

Compare Steve KozolaUpcoming UFC scheduleFight analysis archivePrediction track record
// FORECAST_AVAILABLE_
Want the next-fight forecast?
The pick is free.

Every published fight shows its winner and win probability free. The full debate, method and round open with Sharp or an Event Pass.

THIS WEEK'S PICKS ALL FIGHTERS
BLUEPRINT/MMA · DOSSIER ENGINE v3.2
// LAST INDEX SYNC · 2026-10-29